Kanpur: Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, who is undertaking an 81-day nationwide “Gau Vishti Yatra” launched from Gorakhpur on May 3, reached the Samajwadi Party’s stronghold Saifai in Etawah on Saturday, where he was received by party functionary Shivpal Singh Yadav.The yatra seeks to build support for granting the cow the status of “Rashtra Mata” (National Mother) and advocates a complete nationwide ban on cow slaughter. From the stage, Shivpal said the SP stands firmly with Avimukteshwaranand in this struggle.He said, ”We are Yaduvanshis and consider the cow our mother… We are with Swamiji in the fight he is leading for the cause of cow protection.”A day earlier in Mainpuri, SP MP Dimple Yadav met Avimukteshwaranand and sought his blessings. She later sat on the ground with folded hands before the seer as he reiterated his demand for according the cow the status of “Rashtra Mata” (Mother of the Nation).During the interaction, Dimple expressed regret over an incident in Kannauj in which the seer was allegedly compelled to spend the night by the roadside. Referring to another controversy during the Magh Mela in Prayagraj, she remarked that the alleged disrespect shown to Swami Avimukteshwaranand would ultimately be “answered by nature itself.”On Saturday, the event was held on the campus of a private school in Saifai. Those present included MP Aditya Yadav, MLA Tej Pratap Yadav, former Block Pramukh Mridula Yadav, former District Panchayat President Premlata Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav’s bother Abhayram Yadav.As part of the ongoing Gau Vishti Yatra, Avimukteshwaranand reached Kannauj on June 3, where an overnight halt had been scheduled at Asha Public School in Salempur, Chhibramau. However, organisers alleged that local authorities informed them later in the evening that permission for the stay had been denied, forcing them to cancel the planned programme at short notice.After this, the seer chose to remain at the reception site at Pal Chauraha, where a temporary tent was arranged. Police personnel stayed deployed there through the night. According to his associates, despite the intense heat, there were no provisions for electricity, fans or other basic amenities.Addressing the media, the seer said that cow protection must precede any discussion on the creation of a Hindu nation. He asserted that the Constitution itself emphasises cow welfare and alleged that despite this, cows continue to live in distress, with many shelters carrying out only token measures in the name of protection.The seer also accused the administration of creating obstacles for the yatra. Referring to the Kannauj episode, he claimed that authorities denied permission for the group’s overnight stay at a school, forcing participants to spend the night on government land instead.He added that the campaign had already traversed around 150 assembly constituencies and would continue until its completion despite the challenges encountered along the way.
