Hindu saints object to entry of Sadhvi Shivani Durga in ‘Big Boss’

The entry of Hindu saint Shivani Durga has enraged the saint community in Haridwar. Mahant Narender Giri, spokesperson of Akhara Parishad, has said that those participating in reality shows like ‘Big Boss’ are not real saints. The conduct of Swami Om in ‘Big Boss 2016’ television programme was criticised by the Akhara Parishad. His name was included in the recent list of fake saints prepared by the Akhara Parishad.  Shivani Durga had courted controversy by pitching tents as a women saint during the 2015 Kumbh Mela.

Talking to mediapersons on Tuesday evening, Mahant Narendra Giri said that portrayal of Hindu saints in such shows was abhorrent. He further blamed such shows for maligning Hindu saints by distorted portrayal, dubbing it as a conspiracy against the Hindu religion. He claimed that only Hindu saints were shown in poor light with the aim to degenerate Sanatan Dharma.

Bharat Sadhu Samaj spokesperson Sanjay Mahant said that Swami Om made a mockery of saints on television last year and it was highly likely that similar fate awaited Sadhvi Shivani Durga this time around. He asked the Censor Board and the union government to stop such shows which were being “used to malign Hindu religion.”

Mahant Harigiri, the general secretary of the Akhara Parishad, announced the next list of fake saints would be released soon. The Akhara Parishad had released the first list of fake Babas that included Aasa Ram Bapu, Guru Ram Rahim, Radhe Maa and Swami Om among others. The Akahara Parishad expressed their resentment over the failure of police in tracing Akhara Parishad spokesperson Mahant Mohan Das, who has been missing for past 15 days. The mahanat has been missing since announcing the first list of fake saints.