Varanasi: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said a monk’s resolve should be to never abandon dharma for wealth and to fire bombs and shells for the nation and religion if war breaks out. Addressing the centenary celebrations of Bharat Sevashram Sangha’s Kashi branch, he said every sacrifice for the nation and religion was noble. He praised the organisation for upholding its nationalist ideology and tradition of service without compromising its core values and principles, even in challenging circumstances.The CM said that exactly 100 years ago, in 1926, the revered Swami Pranavanand Maharaj, a great nationalist spiritual seeker, inaugurated the Kashi branch of Bharat Sevashram Sangha. India was under colonial rule at the time. Swami Pranavanand Ji Maharaj travelled to different parts of the country to kindle the flame of independence and, taking up the cause of Hindu awakening, contributed to the vision of a great and independent India. Today, the institution has an effective presence not only across India but also in several countries, carrying forward Sanatan values and the rishi tradition, he said.The CM said that when a nation faces a crisis, its heritage, spiritual and historical legacy, honour, religion and culture all come under threat. Referring to Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Ram Janmabhoomi and Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi, he asked whether anyone could have dared to desecrate Baba Vishwanath’s sacred temple in Kashi if foreign invaders had not succeeded in their attempts. He also asked whether the structure he described as a ‘symbol of slavery’ would have stood at Ram Janmabhoomi for 500 years or at Lord Shri Krishna’s birthplace in Mathura. “Never,” he said.The CM said that in the tradition of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, worship was not limited to incense and lamps; the Mother of the Universe, Mother Bhagwati, was also worshipped with arms and weapons. He said these weapons were not merely to be carried but were also objects of worship, and that one must be ready to wield them when required for national defence.Recalling Trinamool Congress govt in West Bengal, Yogi alleged that its conduct towards Bharat Sevashram Sangha monks was akin to threats from figures such as Ravan and Kansa, and said such behaviour indicated political decline. He said Sangha monks met him during rallies and initially stayed away from the stage before joining at his request.Yogi praised Bharat Sevashram Sangha’s public welfare initiatives, including the distribution of sewing machines to underprivileged girls. He said programmes should continue throughout Sangha’s centenary celebrations and that prominent personalities should be invited to participate.He also said Bharat Sevashram Sangha had been a source of inspiration for Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee, the founding president of the political organisation whose ideology he follows.
