He Said Those Spreading Half-Truths Should Be Punished

Newsreel Asia Insight #277
July 10, 2024

Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati, the 46th Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math in Uttarakhand, has publicly supported Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, who has faced criticism from leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for his comments on Hindus and Hinduism in the Lok Sabha. In a media interview, the Shankaracharya affirmed that Gandhi’s speech resonated with the non-violent teachings of Hinduism. He also noted that distorting someone’s remarks constitutes a crime and calls for accountability.

“We heard Rahul Gandhi’s entire speech. He is clearly saying that there is no place for violence in Hinduism. I … found out that he had not said anything wrong,” The Times of India quoted the Shankaracharya as saying.

Gandhi, in his debut speech as the Leader of the Opposition, criticised certain leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly promoting divisiveness along communal lines. “Mr. Modi once said in his speech that India has never attacked anyone, and that is because this country is a country of non-violence... While those who call themselves Hindus, they engage in violence, hatred, and lies 24 hours a day. You are not Hindus at all,” Gandhi said, pointing towards the ruling party MPs.

This was during a debate on the Motion of Thanks for the President’s address. Prime Minister Narendra Modi retorted by claiming that Gandhi’s words painted the entire Hindu community as violent. In clarification, Gandhi responded, stating that Modi is not the entire Hindu community, the BJP is not the entire Hindu community and the RSS is not the entire Hindu community.

The Shankaracharya said that Gandhi’s speech was in line with the true principles of Hinduism, which inherently rejects violence. The Shankaracharya criticised the selective broadcasting of Gandhi’s statements, labelling it a propagation of half-truths and calling for accountability.

The video clip of Gandhi’s speech, suggesting that he labeled all Hindus as violent, was initially circulated by BJP members and supporters.

Alt News, a fact-checking website, analysed the complete Parliamentary footage and reported that the viral clip was heavily edited and taken out of context. According to Alt News, at the 18:01 mark of his full speech, Gandhi explicitly differentiated his criticism towards BJP MPs, not the Hindu community at large.

On social media, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also accused Gandhi of showing contempt for Hindus.

The Shankaracharya – a title used for the heads of the monasteries established by Adi Shankara, an 8th-century philosopher who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta – holds a significant religious position within the Hindu community. Each of the monasteries, or mathas, is a center of spiritual learning and has its own geographical and spiritual jurisdiction.

Jyotir Math, one of these four principal monasteries, specifically influences and covers the northern part of India. The authority of the Shankaracharya extends to matters of religious doctrine, interpretation of scriptures and spiritual guidance. The position also involves leadership over numerous temples and the guidance of a large community of monks and followers.