Bhopal: Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, renowned narrator of Bageshwar Dham, stirred discussions with his bold statements on national unity, religious boundaries, and international relations during his visit to the residence of BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak in Bhopal. Addressing the media, Shastri emphasized the importance of unity among Indians and voiced his support for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on maintaining national harmony.
Backing the sentiment expressed by CM Yogi Adityanath, Shastri reiterated that internal divisions could make India vulnerable to external threats. He remarked, “If we Indians are divided, the Chinese and Pakistanis will take advantage and harm us. Foreign powers thrive on our disunity.” Referring to PM Modi’s call for unity, he added, “As Indians, we must ensure we do not divide ourselves. Unity is essential for our safety and progress.”
Shastri stood firm on his previous statement against allowing non-Hindus to participate in the Kumbh festival. “We do not go to your mosques, why would you come to our sacred places?” he questioned, asserting that religious sanctity must be preserved. He further criticized any attempts to equate the Kumbh with other religious practices, saying, “We are not invited to Mecca-Medina, nor do we expect to be. Mutual respect for religious boundaries is necessary.”
Shastri also supported the BCCI’s decision to not send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. He referred to Pakistan as a “beggar nation,” stating, “Their condition is poor, and they cannot be trusted. Every agreement they make is broken. Why should we risk going there and facing humiliation?” He also accused Pakistan of relying on external support, particularly from China, and advised them to earn India’s trust before expecting any cooperation.
Highlighting domestic issues, Shastri raised concerns about demographic changes and alleged conspiracies to destabilize India. He accused anti-national elements of fostering division and exploiting vote banks by supporting illegal immigration from Bangladesh. “Those promoting Ghazwa-e-Hind are increasing their numbers and must be stopped. We need to wake up and protect our country from such threats,” he said.
To combat social discrimination and promote unity, Shastri announced the Hindu Ekta Padyatra, a march scheduled from 21 to 29 November 2024. “This is a do-or-die moment for India. The crisis is significant, and we must act now to unite Sanatanis and eliminate casteism and other divides,” he said.
