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Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday strongly criticised the ruling BJP, accusing it of undermining Sanatan traditions after Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati left the Magh Mela in Prayagraj without performing the customary holy dip at the Sangam.

The seer departed the mela premises “with a heavy heart”, bringing an end to his sit-in protest outside the Shankaracharya camp that had continued since January 18. The protest followed an incident in which he was allegedly stopped by the local administration from proceeding to the Triveni Sangam — the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati — for a ritual bath on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya.

Reacting to the development, Yadav said in a post on X that the BJP’s “arrogance of power” had disrupted a sacred tradition upheld for centuries. He termed the Shankaracharya’s departure without a holy dip as an “extremely inauspicious” event on the revered land of Prayagraj.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister claimed the episode had deeply hurt the sentiments of followers of Sanatan Dharma and created a sense of anxiety within the wider religious community. He alleged that the ruling party had failed to act with humility and sensitivity.

“If those in power had wished, they could have set aside their pride and ensured that the Shankaracharya was accorded full honour and facilitated his holy bath at the Sangam,” Yadav said, alleging that the BJP was blinded by the authority it holds.

He further asserted that disrespect towards saints could never lead to welfare or prosperity. “Hurting the sentiments of spiritual leaders brings no good. A greater mistake than wrongdoing is refusing to seek forgiveness,” Yadav said, adding that no political position could supersede the dignity of saints.

Questioning the BJP’s claim of being aligned with Sanatan values, the Samajwadi Party leader said the incident had left devotees distressed and disillusioned. He also issued a warning rooted in religious teachings, stating that arrogance and obstruction of religious rites inevitably invite consequences.

The controversy dates back to January 18, when Swami Avimukteshwaranand was being carried in a palanquin towards the Sangam for the Mauni Amavasya ritual. According to officials, police and administrative authorities requested that he dismount and proceed on foot due to heavy crowds, leading to a disagreement.

The Mela administration later alleged that the seer and his supporters breached a barricade on a pontoon bridge, creating difficulties for crowd management. The Shankaracharya, however, accused the authorities of disrespect and obstruction.

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After days of protests and exchanges between the seer and the administration, Swami Avimukteshwaranand left the Magh Mela on Wednesday without taking the ceremonial dip.