Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah’s proposed visit to Sivagiri on Thursday seems to have triggered a row with the sanyasis of the Madhom reiterating their secular credentials and their equidistant outlook towards all political parties.
Mr. Shah is reaching here on Thursday to address the party’s State executive meeting and had included Sivagiri in his itinerary. But neither the national nor the State leaders of the party had sounded out to the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust of his desire to call on the Madhom.
The visit grabbed public attention since the party is making all-out efforts to break new ground with the Madhom in view of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.
Trust secretary Swami Rithambarananda told The Hindu here that the Madhom had not invited Mr. Shah; neither has anybody from the BJP informed them of Mr.Shah’s visit. “A police officer told me that Mr.Shah will be reaching Sivagiri by 12.30 p.m. and will be there till 2.30 p.m. We still do not have any idea about the visit,” he said.
The Swamy said the Madhom had no political affiliation and it was not for or against any political party. The Madhom is observing the centenary of Guru’s proclamation against caste system in 1916 and will uphold its secular credentials. Swamy Ameyananda too denied any knowledge about Mr. Shah's visit.
Arriving today
Mr. Shah will arrive here at 9 a.m. on Thursday and attend the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) steering committee meeting at 10 a.m. He will inaugurate the BJP working committee meeting at 10 a.m. and leave for Sivagiri Madhom at 1 p.m. Mr. Shah will have lunch with the sanyasis of the madhom. He will also inaugurate a function to mark the 63{+r}{+d}death anniversary of Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mookerjee here at 3.30 p.m.
