Mahamandaleshwar Swami Akhileshwaranand Giri is an Indian spiritual leader and preacher. He currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Gopalan and Livestock Promotion Board and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Madhya Pradesh Cow Husbandry and Livestock Promotion Board, appointed by the Madhya Pradesh government in 2021.[1] He is also a Cabinet Minister in Shivraj Singh Chouhan's cabinet[2] and holds the status of Minister of State (MoS) in the Madhya Pradesh government.[3] Additionally, he serves as the Chairman of the Madhya Pradesh State Gau Samvardhan Board (Cow Protection Board).[4]
Akhileshwaranand Giri | |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Minister, Madhya Pradesh Government | |
| In office June 2018 – Incumbent | |
| Minister of State, Madhya Pradesh Government | |
| In office April 2018 – Incumbent | |
| Personal details | |
| Profession | Spiritual Leader, Preacher |
In 2018, Akhileshwaranand was appointed to a Narmada conservation panel set up by the state government for conservation of the Narmada River.[5][6] He is a former pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh[7] and had participated in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.[8]
He works for cow protection and demanded the creation of a dedicated cow ministry in the state of Madhya Pradesh.[9] Later a cow ministry was established in the state.[10] Swami Akhileshwaranand was given the title of Mahamandaleshwar in March 2010 by the Niranjani Akhara.[11] Giri also served as the head of the state-level committee constituted by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) to raise funds for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.[12]
Controversies
editAkhileshwaranand Giri made a controversial statement regarding actor Shah Rukh Khan's alleged sympathy for Pakistan amidst ongoing protests against the song Besharam Rang featured in the film Pathaan. Swami said, "if Shah Rukh Khan has sympathy for the enemy country, then he should immediately leave India and settle in Pakistan."[13]
In April 2022, Akhileshwaranand Giri called for an immediate ban on the use of loudspeakers for Azaan or Namaz, stating his full support for the ban. Giri made these comments while speaking to the media in Jabalpur that using loudspeakers for Azaan or Namaz is not a part of traditional practice.[14]
References
edit- ^ Khodani, Pooja (28 July 2021). "स्वामी अखिलेश्वरानंद गिरी को मप्र सरकार ने सौंपी बड़ी जिम्मेदारी" (in Hindi). MP Breaking News.
- ^ "राज्यमंत्री दर्जा प्राप्त महामंडलेश्वर स्वामी अखिलेश्वरानंद महाराज ने की शिरकत" (in Hindi). Dainik Bhaskar.
- ^ "Swami Akhileshwaranand gets Cabinet rank in Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Madhya Pradesh government". The Financial Express. 13 June 2018.
- ^ "Newly appointed cabinet minister Swami Akhileshwaranand Giri urges state govt to form 'Cow Ministry'". India TV. 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Babas as Ministers in Madhya Pradesh: Sant Rise!". India Legal Live. 15 April 2018.
- ^ "Sadhus in office". Hindustan Times. 17 June 2018.
- ^ Jha, Dhirendra (22 October 2018). "From 'Pappu' and 'Mama', the Rise of Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Madhya Pradesh". The Wire.
- ^ Ashraf, Ajaz (29 November 2021). "Hinduism let down by clergy". Mid Day.
- ^ "Newly appointed Madhya Pradesh cabinet minister Swami Akhileshwaranand appeals for state cow ministry". New Indian Express. 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Cow Cabinet: Shivraj Singh Chouhan-Led Madhya Pradesh Government Forms New Cabinet For the Protection of Cows, Check Details". Yahoo News. 18 November 2020.
- ^ "तीसरा विश्व युद्ध गाय के लिए होगा: स्वामी अखिलेश्वरानंद गिरी". Navbharat Times (in Hindi). 8 August 2016.
- ^ Ghatwai, Milind (1 January 2021). "'Will visit every Hindu home, avoid confrontation' — VHP's Ram Mandir fundraising chief in MP". The Print.
- ^ "Besharam Rang Row: 'Shah Rukh Khan should leave India & settle in Pakistan', says VP of MP's Gau Samvardhan Board". The Free Press Journal. 18 December 2022.
- ^ Tripathi, Ajay (26 April 2022). "Loudspeaker Controversy: Akhileshwaranand Giri's entry in the ongoing controversy over loudspeaker, know what he said?". ABP News.