Serial hate speech offender and attention seeker Paramhans Das, who calls himself “Jagatguru Paramhansacharya from Ayodhya district”, attempted to seek the spotlight yet again claiming he was denied permission to enter Taj Mahal premises because of his saffron clothes. Taking a cue from his rants, some right-wing organisations then staged a protest outside the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) office.
According to news reports Das, who is based in Ayodhya, claimed he “was denied entry to the monument” because he “wore saffron clothes and carried a ‘Brhamdand’”. The ‘Brhamdand’ is a large stick covered with saffron clothes and is a religious artefact or symbol carried by some monks and persists. However, the Archaeological Survey of India officials have denied the allegation. According to news reports, the Agra ASI circle official Raj Kumar Patel said Das was asked by the security personnel to deposit “an object” in a locker near the entry gate. Das refused and was not allowed to enter. Patel said if the the religious significance of the ‘Brahmdand’, was explained then to security staff they “would not have denied him the entry.”
It is reported that Patel said that the ASI “even allowed a group of protesting activists to enter the monument later in saffron clothes with one of them also carrying the ‘Brahmdand’”.
However, right-wing groups were offended that Das was denied entry to the Taj Mahal. Das also claimed that he came to the monument as “it is Tejo Mahal and a temple of Lord Shiva” referring to the decades old conspiracy theory loved by the right-wing, adding that “students have been taught false history that it is Taj Mahal.”
ASI official Patel however said that according to the video footage from the area the saffron-clad Das was “seen at the security point of the western gate of Taj Mahal” and was “not stopped from entering the Taj Mahal premises due to his saffron attire.” The ASI and security staffers asked him to keep an object he was carrying with him at the locker room or outside the Taj Mahal premises. Patel added, “We have to follow security procedures and for that everything is checked properly.”
Das was in the news last year when he threatened to die by sucide if the Union government did not declare India a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ by October 2, 2021. He also demanded that the citizenship of Muslims and Christians should be terminated. Das was put under house arrest to maintain peace as crowds had gathered in support of his statement. He of course did not submerge himself in the river as he had threatened. However, to add his signature move to seek mention he claimed that “since he was unable to get to the river, he would immerse his nose in a case of water.” The video may be viewed here.
He then generously gave the Union government time until November 2023 to declare India as a Hindu nation else he would go on fast unto death. Meanwhile he threatned Muslim and Christians saying they “will be driven out” and that “Muslims and Christians who have converted Hindus, those who have killed Hindus, will all be avenged. We all saints are ready now. We have decided that India should be declared a Hindu nation and Christian and Muslim existence should be ended. Hindus are brothers, Christians and Muslims will be chased out.” He too spoke about giving weapons to Hindus as “to kill demons you need weapons”.
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