Agartala, January 21, 2026: In a sharp display of protest, the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) took to the streets of Agartala today to condemn the alleged mistreatment and assault of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati by the Uttar Pradesh police. The protest culminated in the burning of effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath at the busy Shakuntala Road area.
Protest Against Police “Barbarism”
The demonstration was sparked by recent reports from Prayagraj, where the Shankaracharya was allegedly stopped from taking a holy dip at the Sangam during the Magh Mela. It is reported that his supporters were manhandled and the spiritual leader himself was prevented from proceeding on his palanquin, leading him to sit in a protest hunger strike.
Addressing the rally, TPCC President Asish Kumar Saha launched a blistering attack on the BJP-led governments at the Center and in Uttar Pradesh.
“The BJP repeatedly claims to be the guardian of Sanatan Dharma, yet they have the audacity to attack the highest spiritual authority of Hinduism. This barbaric treatment of the Shankaracharya and other saints exposes the hollow nature of their religious rhetoric,” Saha stated.
Outrage Over “Power-Hungry” Governance
Congress leaders and workers marched through the city, raising slogans against the “anti-religion” and “authoritarian” actions of the UP administration. The protesters carried banners stating “Hindu Khatre Me Hain” (Hindus are in danger)—alleging that the threat comes from the ruling party’s own actions.
Key points raised by the Congress during the protest:
- Disrespect to Tradition: The party alleged that the BJP is breaking centuries-old religious traditions to maintain political control.
- Double Standards: Leaders questioned why Z+ category security is provided to RSS leadership while a senior Shankaracharya is allegedly harassed by police.
- Demanding Apology: The TPCC demanded an immediate apology from the Prime Minister and the UP Chief Minister for the incident.
Burning of Effigies at Shakuntala Road
As the rally reached Shakuntala Road, the atmosphere turned tense as Congress activists set fire to the effigies of PM Modi and Yogi Adityanath. The symbolic act was meant to demonstrate the party’s “absolute disgust” (Dhikkhar) toward the incidents in Uttar Pradesh.
Senior leaders, including youth and Mahila Congress members, were present in large numbers, vowing to take this issue to every corner of Tripura to “unmask” the ruling party’s alleged disregard for spiritual leaders who do not align with their political agenda.
