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Amit Shah Attends ISKCON Event as Devotee, Not Home Minister

Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the 152nd appearance day of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati at the ISKCON temple in Mayapur, West Bengal. He explicitly stated he was present not as Home Minister but as a devotee of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. During his address, Shah conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the gathering. He spoke on the spiritual significance of the event and the legacy of the Vaishnav revivalist movement.

Key Points: Amit Shah at ISKCON Mayapur: Attends as Devotee, Not HM

  • Shah attended religious event in personal capacity
  • Focused on spiritual legacy, not politics
  • Conveyed PM Modi's greetings to devotees
  • Highlighted Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's devotional movement
2 min read

'Attended Mayapur ISKCON event as devotee, not Home Minister': HM Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah clarifies he attended the ISKCON event in Mayapur as a follower of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, not in his official capacity.

"I have not come here as the Home Minister of India. I have come here today as a humble devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. - Amit Shah"

Kolkata, Feb 18

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that he was attending a religious congregation at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple in Mayapur in West Bengal's Nadia district not in his official capacity but as a follower of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion of the 152nd holy appearance day of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, the 19th-century Vaishnav revivalist and founder of the Gaudiya Math, Shah refrained from making any political remarks during his brief address and focused on the spiritual significance of the event and the devotional legacy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Speaking on the occasion, Home Minister Shah said he had also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the devotees attending the function and shared the message of devotion associated with the occasion.

"This morning I spoke to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. I told him that today I am going to attend the 152nd Jayanti of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati in Mayapur. He greeted all of you with heartfelt devotion and conveyed the message of 'Hare Krishna' to all of you. A little while ago, I was addressed as the Home Minister of India. I have not come here as the Home Minister of India. I have come here today as a humble devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu," HM Shah said.

Home Minister Shah said that the devotional movement initiated by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was later strengthened and institutionalised by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, who played a key role in spreading Vaishnav philosophy in modern times.

"That devotional movement was not just carried forward, but also transformed into a modern medium to inspire youths to engage in global welfare," he said.

He added that Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had shown a spiritual path to people immersed in ignorance and helped spread the message of devotion across India and beyond.

"Both good and bad aspects are present in a person. But when a person dissolves his own existence and becomes one with Lord Krishna, then everything becomes good. On this path, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, through kirtan, dance, devotional music, and the message of the Gita, lit the lamp of devotion in the lives of many people in eastern and northeastern parts of India," Home Minister Shah said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
While I appreciate the sentiment, it's hard to completely separate the person from the position. When the Home Minister attends, it's an official visit. Still, the message of Bhakti and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings is timeless and beautiful.
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Aman W
ISKCON has done remarkable work globally in spreading Indian spirituality and culture. Events like these in Mayapur are significant. Good that PM Modi's greetings were conveyed. Hare Krishna!
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Sarah B
Interesting to read about this. As someone from outside India, I've always been fascinated by the Bhakti movement and its universal message of love and devotion. It's a core part of India's soft power.
K
Karthik V
The teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu about dissolving the ego and uniting with the divine are needed more than ever in today's world. Whether as a minister or a devotee, spreading this message is welcome. Jai Shri Krishna!
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Nisha Z
I have a respectful criticism. While personal faith is private, a senior minister's visit to a specific religious congregation, especially before elections in Bengal, will inevitably be seen through a political lens. The distinction is very thin.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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