"We Were Humiliated, Beaten, Detained": Shankaracharya's Explosive Charges Against UP Administration

In an extensive and fiery interview with NDTV, Swami Avimukteshwaranand strongly defended his actions and remarks following the Prayagraj Magh Mela confrontation. Rejecting allegations of politicising religion ahead of the 2027 elections, he claimed the incident was deliberately escalated by the administration and involved grave mistreatment of saints, followers, women and children. He stood by his controversial remarks against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath linking them to alleged temple demolition and failure to stop cow slaughter. The Shankaracharya also dismissed support from political parties as opportunistic, rejected BJP, Congress and Samajwadi Party alike, and asserted that India is entering a new phase of "Sanatani politics," though he ruled out personally joining electoral politics.