Former UP CM Akhilesh apologises for lathicharge on seer in Varanasi in 2015

Lucknow:Adopting stance of soft Hindutuva , Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav tendered his apologies to Shankaracharya Swami Swroopanand and his disciple Swami Avimukteshwaranand , for the lathicharge in Varanasi in 2015.

Akhilesh Yadav was than the chief minister of UP. He met the religious leaders at Haridwar on Sunday and sought their blessings.

``I admit my mistake and I have apologised to Shankaracharya and his disciple for the lathicharge in Varanasi’’, Akhilesh Yadav said in Haridwar on Sunday after meeting the seer.

Akhilesh Yadav after meeting Shankaracharya at Kankhal ashram in Haridwar said "I have come to meet Shankaracharya and seek his blessings as he is inspired his recent statement in Mathura that farmers are in distress."

He said the Kumbh mela is ancient Indian tradition and religious leaders and the disciple are promoting the ancient traditions.

In 2015 police in Varanasi had lathi charged the protestors demanding the immersion of idols of Ganesha in Ganga. During the lathicharge Swami Avimukteshwaranand and several other religious leaders were injured. Swami Avimukteshwaranand was also arrested and sent to jail.

SP president said Mamta Banarjee will be the next chief minister of West Bengal. He said Samajwadi party leaders are camping in Bengal and campaigning in Bengal for the victory of the Trinmool Congress candidates.

Mr Yadav reiterated that for the 2022 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Samajwadi party will not enter into alliance with any big political party. Yadav slammed the UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath for the poor handling of the second wave of covid saying `` the common people are suffering while the chief minister is busy in political tourism and campaigning in West Bengal assembly elections.(UNI)