Shankaracharya criticizes Rahul Gandhi over religious and cultural remarks

Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Maharaj has criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding his comments on religious texts and cultural attire. The spiritual leader accused Gandhi of repeatedly disrespecting Hindu religious scriptures, specifically the Manusmriti, and demanded an apology. The Shankaracharya stated that if Gandhi continues to make such remarks, a campaign may be launched to urge Hindus to reject the Congress Party.

The criticism follows a controversy involving Bollywood actor Kriti Sanon’s attire in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement. After Sanon faced online backlash, Rahul Gandhi defended her, stating that what a woman wears is her choice and calling for an end to trolling. In response, the Shankaracharya argued that attire should respect the cultural environment and the specific occasion, noting that festivals like Raksha Bandhan are rooted in Indian and Hindu traditions.

Additionally, the Shankaracharya addressed Gandhi’s alleged claims in Parliament regarding the Manusmriti. He noted that a request was sent to Gandhi to provide specific passages supporting his claims about the text, but no response has been received.