Not all seers want to solicit support for BJP

An open call to support the BJP and elect Narendra Modi again as the Prime Minister in 2019 from the stage of All India Sant Committee does not seem to have gone well with a section of Hindu seers.

Upset with the stage being used for soliciting political support, Acharya Madhur of Ayodhya, said, "If seers start becoming political, then what will happen to the Samaj (society)? We saints have nothing to do with political parties, raising such political issues will destroy both the Sant Samaj as well as Hindu Samaj. The organisers should have kept the conclave limited only to the construction of Ram Mandir, which is a pious cause."

He also questioned the role of BJP since 1992 and said the party only tries to garner votes during elections every five years in the name of Shri Ram which should be exposed. "'What have they done besides this,' I ask all sants who are present here," he said.

Another seer, Swami Avadheshanand, Vice President of Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Sant Mahasabha and organising secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Brahman Sabha, said, such a political move can backfire and that the Sant Samaj should refrain from making political statements. "Our (saints) philosophy is na kahu se dosti na kahu se bair (neither friendship nor animosity with anyone) and we should position ourselves as that only," he said.

At the end of the two-day conclave, seers could be seen in groups outside the Talkatora indoor stadium debating the pros and cons of bringing politics in construction of Ram Mandir. The majority, however, seemed to be in favour of the decision to give a call to support the BJP.