The above image is a symbolic illustration created for representational purposes.
January 31, 2026,Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh : A fresh confrontation has emerged between religious leader Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and the Uttar Pradesh administration following his departure from the Magh Mela in Prayagraj. Addressing reporters at Shri Vidya Math in Varanasi on Friday, the seer questioned the state leadership’s commitment to religious values, saying such commitment must be reflected through concrete action rather than public symbolism.
He announced a forty-day ultimatum to the state government, setting March 10 as the deadline for meeting a set of demands related to cow protection. According to him, these include declaring the cow as the national mother, in line with steps taken in some other states, and imposing a complete ban on the export of cattle meat from Uttar Pradesh. He alleged that a portion of such exports was being carried out under misleading classifications.
The seer said he had rejected proposals from Mela authorities aimed at defusing the dispute through ceremonial gestures. These, he claimed, included offers for a symbolic ritual bath accompanied by floral tributes and assurances of revised arrangements at future religious gatherings. He maintained that such measures were insufficient and insisted that the issue could only be resolved through a formal apology for what he described as the mistreatment of his followers during the Mauni Amavasya event on January 18.
The disagreement has also taken a legal dimension, with the seer continuing to contest a government notice that questioned his use of the title Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth. He said that all documents sought by the administration had been submitted more than two weeks ago, and argued that the delay in response reflected a lack of sincerity on the part of the authorities.
He warned that failure to address his demands by the March 10 deadline would lead to a large gathering of saints in Lucknow on March 11, where the state government’s approach to religious issues would be openly questioned. He described the proposed assembly as a collective response rather than an individual protest.
There have also been claims of internal unease within the administration, with reports suggesting that some officials have expressed discomfort over the handling of the matter. These claims, however, have not been independently confirmed.
The Uttar Pradesh government has not issued an official response to the ultimatum so far. As the deadline approaches, attention within religious and political circles is increasingly focused on how the state will respond to a standoff that now blends faith, governance and public accountability.
