Mohan Bhagwat's 'mandir-masjid' remark draws ire of saffron brigade

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's observation that it was not acceptable how new temple-mosque disputes are raked up after the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, has faced dissent from notable seers across the country.

“Every day a new matter (dispute) is being raked up. How can this be allowed? This cannot continue. India needs to show that we can live together,” Bhagwat had said while delivering a lecture on ‘India – The Vishwaguru’, at Sahjeevan Vyakhyanmala (lecture series) in Pune on December 19 without mentioning any particular site.

The Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti has slammed Bhagwat's cautioning while stressing on their belief that such matters are best decided by religious leaders, and not by the RSS, which it has dubbed as a 'cultural organisation'.

"When the subject of religion arises, it is for religious gurus to decide. And whatever they decide will be accepted by Sangh and VHP," AKSS general secretary Swami Jitendranand Saraswati said, as per a report by Times of India.

Saraswati also said that temple structures have been identified at 56 different sites, which underscores public interest in such issues.

Shankaracharya of the Jyotirmath Peeth in Uttarakhand Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati on Sunday had also criticised Bhagwat for his "politically convenient" position on restoring temples.

Avimukteshwaranand said a list of temples destroyed in the past by invaders should be prepared and archaeological surveys of the structures be carried out to "restore Hindu pride".

"When he wanted power, he went around speaking about temples. Now that he has power, he is advising not to look for temples," he said on Bhagwat's remarks.

The seer said a lot of atrocities have been committed against the Hindus and their religious places have been destroyed in the past. "If now, the Hindu society wants to restore and preserve its temples, then what is wrong in it?"

This is the first time Bhagwat has faced such direct resistance from the saffron ecosystem in the country.

With PTI inputs