After being externed by the police for his alleged incendiary statements, followed by the Hyderabad High Court suspending that order, Swami Paripoornananda entered Telangana to a rousing ‘saffron welcome’ through the border town Kodad here on Tuesday.
The pontiff returning to Hyderabad after 54 days of exile stopped by at temples in Kodad, Suryapet, Narketpally, Chityala and Choutuppal on the NH-65, before he entered the city.
On July 9, the Hyderabad city police had placed Swami Paripoornananda under house arrest after he announced his intention to take up a three-day yatra, to preach on protecting the Hindu dharma. And citing other provocative speeches, the police had booked him under the Telangana Prevention of Anti- Social and Hazardous Activities Act, and externed him.
The interim order suspending the police’s order by the Court came on August 14.
Offers prayers
On Tuesday, after offering prayers at the Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada at 10 a.m., Swami Paripoornananda entered Telangana via Kodad and met members of the Rashtriya Hindu Sena, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other groups.
He was given a poornakumbha welcome at the Ramapuram Crossroads in Kodad town and taken in a huge bike rally, with cries of Bharat Mata ki Jai, Vandemataram and Victory of dharma renting the air.
Swami Paripoornananda stood through the sunroof of his white SUV and greeted members along the highway, from Kodad till exiting Choutuppal.
The police at Kodad, Chityala and Choutuppal who ensured arrangements said the entry was peaceful and the pontiff did not make any statements. “He was garlanded as he entered the temples on the way, but there was no scope for making statements,” an official said
Song and dance
Welcoming Swami Paripoornananda, groups of lambada women danced and sang songs in Kodad and troupes of women in yellow saris played dandiya. The towns were painted in bright saffron with supporters in the same coloured caps, flags and banners.
Senior member of Bharatiya Janata Party and temple organisations said the High Court decision suspending the police order came as a slap to anti-nationals. “We will go any distance to protect Hindu dharma,” they said. The rally welcoming Swami Paripoornananda was called Dharma Jwala Yatra, the members said.
Hyderabad Staff Reporter adds: A large number of Swami Paripoornanda’s supporters gathered on the city’s outskirts to greet him on Tuesday.
BJP legislators Raja Singh and N.V.S.S. Prabhakar, with their supporters, greeted him at Abdullahpurmet. The gathering proceeded towards L.B. Nagar and onwards into the city. As it passed by, more people joined the procession, causing hurdles to free traffic movement.