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On Sant Ravidas’ birth anniversary, Priyanka Gandhi calls for end to hatred
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said Sant Ravidas’ philosophy of equality for all is also reflected in India’s Constitution.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday said teachings of Sant Ravidas should be followed by everyone to end a cycle of hatred and violence in the country.
“Sant Ravidas always wanted a society in which there is no discrimination on the basis of caste and religion. He wanted a society where everyone is treated equally. Our Constitution wants the same,” she said after offering prayers at Shri Guru Sant Ravidas Janamasthan Mandir in Seer Goverdhanpur area, Varanasi on the birth anniversary of 14th-century saint and founder of the Bhakti movement in North India.
“The teachings of Sant Ravidas should be followed by everyone to end this hatred and violence that has been spread in the society,” the Congress leader said.
She did not name anyone but the Congress had earlier accused the BJP and right wing groups of spreading hatred in the country.
Priyanka who flew into Varanasi around noon, drove to the Shri Guru Sant Ravidas Temple where she offered prayers.
“Today, I offered prayers to Sant Guru Ravidas at Sant Shiromani Sant Guru Ravidas Janmasthan Mandir. I am very happy. I feel I am very fortunate,” she said.
Ahead of her visit she tweeted, “Many Many Congratulations to all of you on the birth anniversary of Jagat Pitama, Sahib Kamal, Sadguru Shri Ravidas Ji Maharaj,” She said.
She also met Sant Niranjan Dass, the chief saint of Dera Sach Khan Balla, Jalandhar, who arrived in the temple on Friday. The Congress leader described her visit as a completely spiritual tour.
Her visit to Varanasi came a day after the Delhi assembly elections where the Congress is projected to finish a distant third behind the Aam Aadmir Party (AAP) and the BJP.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Sant Ravidas Temple twice. The first visit was in February 2016 when he spent 15 minutes at the temple. In February 2019, Modi offered prayers for Sant Ravidas and laid foundation of Shri Guru Ravidas Birth place development project in Seer Goverdhanpur.
In the meantime, areas around the Seer Goverdhanpur are teeming with followers Sant Ravidas who have arrived from different parts of Punjab and other parts of the country and a festive fervor is quite visible.
