Special Correspondent
NewsBits.in
Bhopal: Facing severe criticism from saints, opposition parties as well as its mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP on Wednesday organized a ‘Sant Samagam Snan’ at Simhastha in Ujjain instead of its much publicized ‘Samrasta Snan’.
BJP national president Amit Shah took a dip in River Kshipra at Valmiki Ghat with chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and selected saints including Swami Avadheshanand and All India Akhara Parishad chief Narendra Giri.
However, the concept of ‘Samrasta Snan’ wherein Dalit saints and people were to be specially included in the holy dip event in presence of Amit Shah was put on backburner.
The Samrasta event had drawn severe flak from many quarters with a large section of saints and seers opposing the BJP programme, calling it divisive on caste lines. Opposition parties including Congress were naturally combative with AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh demanding action by National Scheduled Caste Commission.
But the crucial blow came from BJP’s ideological mentor RSS. Senior leader Prabhakar Kelkar lashed out at the move, saying that such event would send signals that during earlier Kumbha events, Dalits were discriminated with.
Though state BJP head Nandkumar Singh Chauhan put up a brave face and said ‘Kelkar is not our maalik (owner)’, the party finally decided to do away with the ‘Samrasta Snan’.
On Wednesday, Amit Shah addressed a gathering near Valmiki Ghat, had food with saints and took a dip in River Kshipra, trying to wash away the controversy.
