New Delhi, [India] May 5 (ANI): Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj, Treasurer of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Trust and Vice President of Mathura Krishna Janmbhoomi Trust, on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, branding him a 'fake Shankaracharya' and accusing him of aligning with political interests by repeatedly criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

'He is a fake Shankaracharya,' Swami Govind told reporters in Delhi. 'The sin he is committing every day of mocking our Prime Minister is not the work of any Swami. He should not become a stooge of any party, which he has become.'

Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, has been a vocal critic of the Modi government, and has previously questioned policies related to the Ram Temple and Hindu religious affairs.

Further, when asked about controversial statement made by a Congress leader Ajay Rai in regard to Pahalgam terror attack, Swami Govind, the treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said, 'I am not aware of the statement or the person but who so ever is doing politics over Pahalgam issue can't be called a nationalist and we will consider them as traitor. Our government is capable of giving a befitting reply, and this reply should be given in such a way that no trace of this sinful country (Pakistan) remains.'

Earlier, former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam also took a swipe at Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi over his reported remarks referring to Lord Ram as a 'mythological' figure, saying such comments stem from a lack of faith.

'Only that person believes that Lord Ram is a god who has faith in him. The person who has no faith in Lord Ram will raise questions about Lord Ram and the Ram Temple. This is not something new,' Acharya Pramod said while speaking to ANI in Ghaziabad. (ANI)