It was an array of ministers and political leaders lining up at Shankaracharya’s ashram on Sunday evening. Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh, Chief Minister of state Harish Rawat, former Union Minister Suresh Pachauri, Satpal Brahmchari and many others were seen queueing up at Jagadgru Shankarachaya Swaroopanand’s ashram in Kankhal to wish the seer on his 93rd birth anniversary.
On reaching the ashram they were welcomed by the musical bands arranged by the ashram. Notably Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati of Jyotish peeth and Dwarka Sharda peeth had left his home at the age of 9 and have been imprisoned during the freedom struggle many a times. And since late 70’s he has been heading the Jyotish and Dwarka peeth.
Amidst chanting of Vedic mantras and floral showering, the Chief minister Harish Rawat offered garland, sweets and shawl to the seer. Digvijay Singh reached with his newly wed wife followed by other Congress leaders Kishore Upadhyay. Rawat was the first to leave the ashram while other Congress leaders remained for long in the celebrations. Ambrish Kumar did not visit along with the leaders busying himself in the winding up of sammelan.
Meanwhile the infight amongst the Congress party members surfaced with PCC chief keeping himself aloof from the Jail yatra sammelan organized by Ambrish Kumar at Bhalla college grounds.
Inspite of senior Congress leader Ambrish Kumar visiting Kishore Upadhyay at Mahanagar committee sammelan following instructions from CM and pacifying him to participate in the memorial function held by him in Bhalla college grounds, state PCC chief did not come in his rally, say the party insiders. Kishore Upadhyay reasoned his non-participation to his party members’ non-consent.
As per the party sources, Kishore Upadhyay had asked Ambrish Kumar to visit the Jwalapur sammelan with 50 members failing which he did not attend the congregation in Bhalla college grounds. Speaking to the Pioneer, Ambrish Kumar said, “When CM visited our samelan he asked me to personally ask Kishore Upadhyay to come to the congregation but he said he could not go against the party workers opinion.”