Puri Shankaracharya receives threat from al Qaeda

The Shankaracharya of Puri, Swami Nischalanand Saraswati Dev, has received a threat mail from al-Qaeda, warning him of dire consequences if he does not embrace Islam.

Indore, Nov 28 : The Shankaracharya of Puri, Swami Nischalanand Saraswati Dev, has received a threat mail from al-Qaeda, warning him of dire consequences if he does not embrace Islam.

The postcard, carrying the threat, was received by the disciples of Shankaracharya in Puri on Monday.

"They (al Qaeda) have threatened that if Shankaracharya does not adopt Islam then they will blow up his religious institution," said Nirvikalp Prakash, Personal Secretary of the Shankaracharya.

The seer, who himself is in Indore for a religious function, seemed unperturbed by the threat.

"Let al Qaeda do whatever they want to. I am not worried by the threat. I am following my own path. I have not threatened anyone. When a Muslim mosque was attacked in India, I had sympathized by terming it as a shameful act on humanity. No activity of ours is a threat to anybody," said Swami Nischalanand Saraswati Dev.

"I am working for the goodwill of all the people. But, in looking after the goodwill of others, I cannot neglect the goodwill of Hindus. I am responsible for the security and integrity of the Hindus and no one can stop me from my path," he added.

The seer will remain in Indore till November 30, during which he will be provided with a tight security cover.

Security has been beefed up in and around Shankaracharya's religious institution in Puri.

ANI