Jyotirmath Shankaracharya 'expels' Rahul Gandhi from Hinduism for his remarks on Manusmriti in Parliament

DEHRADUN: Jyotirmath Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati Saturday 'excommunicated' Congress MP Rahul Gandhi from Hinduism, saying his remarks on Manusmriti in Parliament 'insulted Sanatan Dharma' and the Congress leader had failed to reply to requests for clarification sent three months ago.
In an announcement at the Shankaracharya Ashram in Badrinath, the seer said he waited three months for a reply from Gandhi after he claimed that Manusmriti "protects rapists" during a speech in Parliament. The Shankaracharya added that a reminder had also been sent, but no response came.
"During his speech, he first targeted ruling party members and then made the comment against Manusmriti. It is our dharm-grantha (religious text). Pointing a finger at the ruling party's benches, Gandhi had said it is written in 'your book', which means he does not regard himself as a Hindu. A person who does not regard Manusmriti as his text cannot be a Hindu."
The Shankaracharya said Gandhi was acting against Hinduism. "We took a decision that he should be banned from temples and priests should not perform pooja for him," he said. Incidentally, the Shankaracharya had last year come out in support of Gandhi's comments in Lok Sabha, which had sparked controversy. In his first speech in Parliament as leader of the opposition, the Congress leader had accused BJP leaders of dividing people along communal lines during the debate on the Motion of Thanks for the President's address. In response, PM Modi claimed that Gandhi had referred to the "entire Hindu community as violent." To this, Rahul Gandhi replied, "Narendra Modi ji is not the entire Hindu community, BJP is not the entire Hindu community, RSS is not the entire Hindu community".
Swami Avimukteshwarananda had at the time asserted that Gandhi's speech did not contradict Hinduism "We heard Rahul Gandhi's entire speech. He is clearly saying that there is no place for violence in Hinduism. There is nothing wrong in that," the seer had said.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Shankaracharya said that the sanctity of the pilgrimage sites must be protected and only 'Sanatan Dharma' followers should undertake the Char Dham yatra. "People should not come for leisure. If they come with a pure heart, they will gain spiritual benefits. Non-believers should be barred from entering the four dhams," he said.
'How can Rahul Gandhi be considered a Hindu'
Jyotirmath Shankaracharya questioned, “How can Rahul Gandhi be considered a Hindu if he criticises Manusmriti? Any true follower of Sanatan Dharma would object to this.”