Shastri’s event in Sirsa raises eyebrows

Sirsa, September 1

Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham is set to visit Sirsa for a five-day sermon from September 13 to 17, weeks before the Haryana Assembly elections. The sermons will be held at Tara Baba Kutia, a religious site managed by MLA Gopal Kanda and his brother Gobind Kanda. This event, although planned earlier, is now under scrutiny due to its timing during the election season, raising concerns about potential political motivations.

The event was planned during the Lok Sabha elections when, on May 13, 2024, Gopal Kanda announced in a press conference that Dhirendra Shastri would be visiting Haryana for the first time.

With the Assembly elections approaching, Shastri’s upcoming visit to Sirsa has sparked a debate. Posters of the event have been put up all over Sirsa, and while these posters do not feature any political figures, those displayed at Bhagat Singh Chowk include images of the Kanda brothers.

Gopal Sarraf, chairman, Sri Salasar Dham Mandir, Sirsa, which is officially organising the event, defended the decision to hold it at Tara Baba Kutia. He explained that a large venue was necessary, which is why they requested the Kanda brothers to host the event on their premises.