Shah takes Kumbh snan with Dalit seers

Mixing with the multitude, Shah later asserted the BJP-led NDA government was committed to strengthening the culture and tradition of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also scheduled to attend an event in the city on Saturday, while RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will be here on Thursday, underlining the Hindutva outfits’ all out attempts to expand their base during the sacred religious congregation.

Shah was joined by Dalit saints, including Balyogi Umesh Nath Giri of Balmiki Dham, besides other Hindu seers during the customary dip in the river billed by the party as ‘Samrasta Snan’ (bath for social harmony).

He felicitated them and then went to another event where he honoured the heads of various Hindu akharas.

“I and my party workers seek your blessings so that the government under Narendra Modi goes on to make India the ‘vishwa guru’ (world leader),” he said, batting for social harmony and development.

Shah also noted that May  11 was the birth anniversary of Adi Shankaracharya, who was credited with unifying various streams of Hinduism. Later, Shah also had a ‘Samrasta Bhoj’ (social harmony feast) with Dalit sadhus.