LUCKNOW: Seers’ organisation Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti (AKSS) criticised on Monday RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat‘s recent remarks cautioning against ‘an unacceptable trend of wannabe Hindu leaders raking up temple-mosque disputes at various sites’.
AKSS general secretary Swami Jitendranand Saraswati said such religious matters should be decided by ‘dharmacharyas’ (religious leaders) rather than RSS, which he described as a ‘cultural organisation’.
“When the subject of religion arises, it is for religious gurus to decide. And whatever they decide will be accepted by Sangh and VHP,” Saraswati said. He said despite Bhagwat’s similar comments in the past, temple structures have been identified at 56 new sites, underscoring ongoing interest in these disputes. He said religious organisations often act in response to public sentiment than political agendas.
This marks the first time Bhagwat has faced major dissent from within the saffron ecosystem. Religious gurus like Jagadguru Rambhadracharya believe that Sangh should defer to spiritual figures in decisions related to religion. Analysts suggested the seer’s backlash reflects a larger struggle within the Hindu religious community over RSS’s influence in matters of faith. Bhagwat’s remarks came after Hindu groups filed legal petitions seeking the demolition of mosques they claim were built on temple sites, including Shahi Jama Masjid in UP’s Sambhal. In response, Bhagwat warned that ‘no one will become a leader of Hindus by raking up temple-mosque disputes and spreading communal divide’.
Rambhadracharya challenged the RSS chief’s authority, saying: “Let me make it clear, Mohan Bhagwat is not our disciplinarian, but we are.” He said the recent unrest in Sambhal, where a temple-mosque dispute led to violence and five deaths, highlight the importance of judicial and democratic processes in resolving such issues.
“The positive side is that things are being uncovered in favour of Hindus. We will secure this through the courts, through the ballot, and with public support,” Rambhadracharya said.