Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut has come forward in defense of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde following critical remarks from Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath. The religious leader had condemned Shinde’s actions, referring to the collapse of Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in 2022 as a significant betrayal within Hinduism.
In a pointed comment, Shankaracharya Saraswati stated that treachery is one of the gravest sins in Hindu tenets, saying, “We are Hindus and followers of the Sanatan Dharma that believes in ‘punya’ (virtue) and ‘paap’ (sin), wherein ‘vishwasghat’ (betrayal) is said to be among the biggest sins. The same happened here (in Maharashtra).” His remarks were made during a visit to Mumbai at the invitation of Uddhav Thackeray, the president of Shiv Sena (UBT).
The Shankaracharya expressed his deep distress over what he called the betrayal faced by Thackeray and noted that the people of Maharashtra shared this sentiment, as reflected in the recent Lok Sabha elections where the Opposition INDIA bloc gained 21 seats, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) lost 20.
However, Kangana Ranaut countered these statements by emphasizing the constitutional and political nature of alliances and divisions within political parties. “If a politician does not do politics in politics, will he sell golgappas (water balls)?” Ranaut wrote on X (formerly Twitter). She pointed out historical precedents of party divisions, such as the Congress splits in 1907 and 1971.
Ranaut criticized the Shankaracharya for misusing his influence and religious education, arguing that his comments insult the dignity of Hinduism. “Religion also says that if the king himself starts exploiting his subjects, then treason is the ultimate religion,” she stated in Hindi. Ranaut also accused Shankaracharya of hurting the sentiments of many by labeling Shinde as a traitor.
The political landscape in Maharashtra has been turbulent since the MVA government’s fall in June 2022. The coalition, comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party, was toppled following Eknath Shinde’s rebellion, leading to his rise as Chief Minister with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s support.
