Prayagraj: ABAP president Narendra Giri will be remembered as bold decision-maker

PRAYAGRAJ: Mahant Narendra Giri’s image as Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad’s (ABAP) president had been one of taking tough decisions. As the president of the Akhara Parishad, he took many such decisions which were discussed across the country.
The most talked about was the list of fake godmen across the country released by him in September, 2017. The list created quite a stir among fake saints as the list also demanded a crackdown against these rootless cult leaders.A lot of pressure was put on him to withdraw the list, but he stood by his decision.
Originally named as Rajendra Singh, he was a resident of Bibipur village near Saidabad town area of Prayagraj district. At an early age of 22 years, Giri had left his home in 1983 and had embraced sainthood in 1985. Giri started staying in the company of Kothari Divyanand Giri of Sri Panchayati Akhara Niranjani. After the Kumbh was over, Divyanand took him to Haridwar. After observing his dedication, Giri was given a go ahead to take sanyas and was given the name Narendra Giri in 1985. Mahant Balwant Giri of Shrimath Baghambri Gaddi gave him Guru diksha.
It was after the death of Balwant Giri that Mahant Narendra Giri took over as the peethadheeshwar of Mutt Baghambari Gaddi in 2004 and also became the mahant of the Bade Hanuman temple. He was elected as secretary of Niranjani Akhara. It was at the Nashik Kumbh (2014) when Giri was elected president of ABAP. As the president of Akhara Parishad, in 2017, Giri refused to recognise the Kinnar and Pari Akhara. In the same year and in 2018, the list of fake mahatmas was released. The list included the names of famous saints like Asharam Bapu, Ram Rahim, Mahamandaleshwar Daati Maharaj and Mahamandaleshwar Nityanand.
Several akharas had also opposed the list, but Giri stuck to his decision. In 2019, when Kinnar Akhara tried hard to be recognised as the 14th Akhara, it was Giri who vociferously opposed the idea. The controversy subsided when Juna Akhara included Kinnar Akhara under its ambit.
In every Kumbh, chief minister of the respective state, ministers of the Centre and the state, leaders of the ruling party and opposition and officials used to meet Giri as he was popular among all and enjoyed proximity with all.
On October 10, 2019, the term of Giri as president of ABAP was extended for five more years in Haridwar following which his status increased significantly.Some of the major moves of Narendra Giri as Akhara Parishad’s president included issuing of list of fake babas, not recognizing Kinnar Akhara as the 14th Akhara, openly opposing the self-styled godmen and shankaracharyas, opposing the government for takeover of monasteries and temples, openly opposing triple talaq and religious conversion, demanding strict action against Christian missionaries and protesting killing of animals on Bakrid.