Joining nation-wide protest against Dwarakapeeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati over his controversial statements against Shirdi Sai Baba, the disciples of Sai Baba in the city on Tuesday staged a demonstration at Rajwada and raised slogans against him.
Since 9 am on Tuesday, the Sai disciples started gathering at the historic Rajwada and raised slogans against the Shankaracharya for his controversial remarks. The Sai disciples led by Congress leader Chhotu Shukla said that the Shankaracharya who lives in AC rooms, travels in costly cars has no moral right to make such a caustic remark against Sai Baba who led an impoverished life and took everyone along with him.
On the other hand, Hari Agrawl of Kendriya Sai Sewa Samiti said Shankaracharya's statement against Sai Baba creates a divide between the people of the Hindu and Muslim communities, knowing the fact that Shirdi Sai Baba always coined the slogan of `Sabka Malik Ek' and propagated the message of universal brotherhood. Every Sai disciple follows his doctrines in letter and spirit.
A group of Sai devotees led by Nilesh Rathore and Pradip Vajpaie of Om Sai Shraddha Samiti also protested at Rajwada and threatened to intensify their agitation by burning the effigy of the Shankaracharya at Kalani Nagar Square on Wednesday if he did not withdraw his remarks against Sai Baba of Shirdi by Tuesday evening.
They alleged that the statement of Swami was uncalled for and thus stern action should be taken against him if he fails to apologise.