Swami Avimukteshwaranand Launches 81-Day Cow Protection Yatra From Yogi's Gorakhpur Turf

Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati on Wednesday announced an 81-day statewide march demanding that the cow be declared “Rashtra Mata” (national mother), intensifying his ongoing confrontation with Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking at the Kanshiram Smriti Sthal in Lucknow during the “Dharma Yudha Shankhnaad” programme, the seer announced that the march—called the “Gavishthi Yatra”—will begin on May 3 from Gorakhpur and conclude there on July 23. Gorakhpur is considered the political stronghold of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

During his address, Swami Avimukteshwaranand reiterated his demand that the cow be given the status of “national mother” and said the yatra aims to raise awareness about cow protection across the state. He added that saints and seers have a responsibility to guide political leaders if they believe rulers are straying from the right path.

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The seer clarified that he is not forming a political party and that the initiative is not intended as a political movement. Instead, he said the campaign is meant to push authorities to take stronger action for cow protection through social and religious mobilisation.

He also warned that if traditional religious organisations such as akharas take a different approach, supporters of the movement may organise their own force to carry forward the campaign. According to him, individuals joining the initiative would undergo police verification and remain under monitoring to maintain discipline and order during the march.

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