Seers’ teaching can prevent Kairana-like communal incidents: Yogi

Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that saints have always guided society towards unity and harmony — a path that could have prevented Kairana and Kandhla-like communal incidents in Uttar Pradesh.He was addressing a congregation of seers on the death anniversary of Sant Swami Gyan Bhikshuk Das Ji Maharaj in Muzaffarnagar. The CM said no other faith could boast of a 5,000-year-old legacy other than Sanatan Dharma and called seers the true custodians of a timeless heritage. He said PM Narendra Modi has fulfilled the vision of seers by ensuring equal rights for all citizens."The seers have shown us a path of unity, a way to unite people. It's a path which gives us a guarantee of security, which highlights the way of our development and also inspires us to fight in challenging situations. Swami Gyan Bhikshuk Das Ji Maharaj was a divine soul who dedicated his life to spreading these teachings of Satguru Ravidas Ji Maharaj," the CM said.Yogi said when India was under medieval rule, Satguru Ravidas Ji Maharaj emerged in Sear Govardhan, Kashi, as a beacon of hope. He worked to awaken society against superstition and other social evils, while focusing on the dignity of labour and inner purity. His words ‘Man changa to kathauti mein Ganga' continue to inspire people towards spiritual purity and moral clarity. His guru, Sant Ramanand, also spread the message of equality," the CM said.Yogi said PM Modi has fulfilled Ravidas' vision of equality and dignity through a scheme like Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, under which 81 crore people have received free foodgrain since Covid till now. "Before 2014, roads to Sant Ravidas' birthplace Sear Govardhan were single-lane. We made them four-lane roads. A grand ashram, a magnificent statue, and an Anna Kshetra have been built. Land was acquired for a park and statue in the name of Sant Ravidas," the CM said.He described Shuktirtha as a sacred and mythological site, where Shukdev Ji narrated the first Shrimad Bhagavat to King Parikshit 5,000 years ago. Paying tribute to Swami Bhikshukdas Ji Maharaj and Sant Samandas Ji Maharaj, the CM announced that a ghat, wide roads, beautification, parking, and a satsang hall would be developed around the Samandas Ashram to improve facilities for devotees. "When saintly guidance meets a visionary govt, change is inevitable. It is intent that matters," he said, criticising previous govts for failing to honour someone like BR Ambedkar adequately. "It was PM Modi who first commemorated Ambedkar through the establishment of Panchteerths and declared 26 Nov as the Constitution Day. No govt did this between 1949 and 2015," he said.