Kolkata, 14 January (H.S.): The holy festival of Gangasagar has drawn lakhs of devotees from across the country. Among them is Jagadguru Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati of Puri, who spoke to reporters on Makar Sankranti. He strongly criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the presence of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and terrorists in the state.

Reacting to recent arrests of illegal Bangladeshis and suspected terrorists in Bengal, Nischalananda Saraswati said, Mamata Ji must focus on this issue. Just like the central government dealt with terrorists hiding in Pakistan, the same should happen here. If she is not patriotic, how long can she remain in power?

He urged Banerjee to act firmly, saying, Hindu existence should be safeguarded with strict measures, not political compromises. Power comes and goes, but history remains eternal. Appeasement at the cost of Hindu values and attacks on Sanatan Dharma is unacceptable.

My position represents the highest form of justice. I believe that the constitution should be so righteous that even Yamaraj (the god of death) accepts it.

Parasnath Pilgrimage Dispute: A Warning to the Government

On the Parasnath pilgrimage site in Jharkhand, which was declared a tourist destination by the central government, he said, This is a sacred place of meditation and penance, not a place for tourism and entertainment.

He pointed out that Two Jain saints sacrificed their lives in protest against this decision. Eventually, the government withdrew the tourist status, but local traders still want to convert it into a commercial tourist spot. Development should never come at the cost of erasing sacred places.

Hindusthan Samachar / SP Singh