Nationwide Outrage Against Aniruddhacharya
Aniruddhacharya, aka “Pookie Baba,” faces nationwide protests after insulting comments about women. Protesters demand his arrest, FIR, and a strong public apology.
Nationwide Outrage Against Aniruddhacharya
Effigies of Aniruddhacharya, also known as “Pookie Baba,” are being burned, kicked, and hit with slippers in protests across India. The anger started after his recent comments about women, which many called insulting and degrading.
Who Is Aniruddhacharya?
Born Anirudh Ram Tiwari in 1989 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, he heads the Gauri Gopal Ashram in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. He gained popularity through religious discourses, social media, and YouTube. However, he has often been criticized for sexist remarks about women, live-in relationships, marriage age, and clothing.
What He Said This Time
In his latest discourse, he claimed that a 25-year-old unmarried woman would have had “4 different relationships” words seen as shaming women. He also said girls should be married at 14 to “blend into the family” better.
Past Controversies
He has previously suggested women’s clothing is to blame for sexual violence, and in 2024, upset people with comments about Sita and Draupadi, which were seen as victim blaming.
Protests and Reactions
In Varanasi, the Shankar Sena Mahila Wing led marches, carrying and attacking his effigy with slippers and fire. Videos of protests have gone viral online. Public figures like Khushboo Patani condemned his remarks, calling them misogynistic and hypocritical.
Women’s rights groups, activists, and legal associations demand FIR registration, arrest, and a public apology. They argue such comments are anti-constitutional and harmful, and stricter accountability for religious leaders is needed.
