Akhilesh Yadav’s ‘chillumjeevi’ jibe at saints sparks row, seers furious over insult; demand apology

New Delhi: Following Akhilesh Yadav “chillum jeevi” remark targeted at saffron clad saints in Uttar Pradesh, Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, the main body of Hindu seers has strongly Samajwadi Party chief and demanded apology from him. Taking exception to SP chief’s attempt at casting aspersions on the community, they have warned him to take back his comments or face protest.

On Wednesday, in an alleged attack against the BJP’s ‘saffron’ politics in a Ghazipur rally, Akhilesh referred to saffron-clad saints as “chillumjeevi” and described them as people of “one particular colour.” It was from Ghazipur, that he initiated a joint rath yatra with his associates to Lucknow.

Chillum is a small pipe used for smoking tobacco or marijuana.

Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, the national general secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti stated, “Angry with this unrestrained statement of Akhilesh Yadav, all the saints from all over the country in a concerted voice have warned all the leaders, who are continuously making derogatory remarks on Sanatan Dharma, Bhagwa and saints, not to drag the saints in their petty politics. Otherwise, they will have to face the consequences in the form of public anger.”

Saraswati further added that Sant Samiti will do a door-to-door awareness campaign in Uttar Pradesh against such “pseudo-socialists” and against those Congress leaders who are making contentious statements about Sanatan Hindus and their traditions.

Standing on top of the specially-designed bus, Akhilesh was seen accompanied by his two allies namely Om Prakash Rajbhar, the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief, and Sanjay Chauhan, Janvadi Party (Socialist) president.

“In accordance with the Sanatan (age-old) tradition, CM Yogi Adityanath is the Peethadheeshwar (head) of a well-respected and revered matha (seat of ascetic order). In India, since ancient times, religion has always been above the rule of law. Just because a saint has been given the post of chief minister, no one gets the right to make him a victim of dirty politics. To target him, no objectionable and low-level comments should be made about Sant Samaj.” he said.

Besides, Saraswati said that Opposition leaders like Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi pass such remarks against Sanatan Dharma owing to minority appeasement.

Saraswati has asked Akhilesh Yadav and his spokespersons to apologise immediately to the entire saint and Sanatan Samaj for “insulting” the saints. He also stated that if Akhilesh does not apologise, the Sant Samiti will go from door-to-door across the country and appeal for public support against him.

समाजवादी पार्टी अध्यक्ष अखिलेश यादव के चिलमजीवी बयान पर संत समिति नाराज़

स्वामी जितेन्द्रानंद सरस्वती ने कहा-
ये हिन्दू विरोधी बयान है, अखिल भारतीय संत समिति यह चेतावनी देती है भाषा मे मर्यादा लाइये, अन्यथा सन्तों के प्रतिशोध के लिए तैयार रहिये… pic.twitter.com/NglYyPW5aJ

— Kuldeep Raghav ?? (@ImKuldeepRaghav) November 18, 2021

Additionally, BJP UP chief Swatantra Dev Singh also hit out at Akhilesh for taking jibes at saffron party, in an attempt to bring bad name to Hindu saints and seers.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “Saffron is the color of the sun’s brilliance, saffron is a symbol of happiness and peaceAre you so scared of this colour? The work of spreading hatred towards Hindu saints and saints is going on in full swing.”

सूरज के तेज का रंग है भगवा, सुख-शांति का प्रतीक है भगवा…इस रंग से इतना डर गए?

हिन्दू साधु-संतों के प्रति नफरत फैलाने का काम जोर-शोर से जारी है। pic.twitter.com/Sk76DTx9AK

— Swatantra Dev Singh (@swatantrabjp) November 17, 2021