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Kartik Maharaj recalled Mamata Banerjee’s criticism, where she alleged that some monks from the Bharat Sevashram Sangha were aiding the BJP in Lok Sabha elections.
Bharat Sevashram Sangha monk Kartik Maharaj | Image/CNN-News18
Padma Award 2025: Sevashram Sangha monk Kartik Maharaj, also known as Pradiptananda Maharaj, expressed gratitude to the central government for conferring him the Padma Shri award on Republic Day eve.
Kartik Maharaj, a monk who found himself at the centre of a row between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP in West Bengal during the Lok Sabha elections 2024, was among the nine recipients of the Padma Shri award from West Bengal.
Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Kartik Maharaj recalled Mamata Banerjee’s criticism, where she alleged that some monks from the Bharat Sevashram Sangha were aiding the BJP in Lok Sabha elections, working against the TMC in the state.
“I thank the Bengal government and the state ruling party. Their criticism of me and my work helped my efforts gain nationwide recognition. Their advertisements made me famous across India. Earlier, I was only known in Murshidabad, but now I am known nationwide,” Maharaj told CNN-News18.
“People began to explore what I had done after hearing their (Mamata Banerjee’s) remarks. Everyone now knows about my work and who Swamiji is. For this, I sincerely thank Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” he added.
‘Heartfelt Thanks To Centre’
Kartik Maharaj, the secretary of the Beldanga branch of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha in Murshidabad, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the central government for honouring his welfare works with the Padma award.
“Those who wear saffron do not seek awards, rewards, or appreciation. Our organisation, Bharat Sevashram Sangh, along with our hospital and school, will benefit greatly from this recognition,” Maharaj said.
“Thousands of people receive treatment here, and this award will serve as a major inspiration for all these efforts. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Government of India. In Bengal, Swami Vivekanand ji began the mission of serving the people, and we are continuing that legacy, as envisioned by Bharat Sevashram Sangh founder Pranabananda Ji,” he added.
Caught In TMC, BJP Crossfire
In May 2024, as national political tensions escalated ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, a Sevashram monk became the focal point of the TMC-BJP conflict in West Bengal.
Kartik Maharaj sent a legal notice to Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, demanding an apology from the CM for her alleged defamatory comments about his organisation.
His lawyer stated that the monk had dedicated his life to “humanity” and to modernising Hindu society while preserving the core values of ancient Hindu traditions.
He referred to Banerjee’s purported remarks that some monks of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha and Ramakrishna Mission were allegedly working hand in hand with the BJP in the state and said, “The Chief Minister will never be able to prove her accusations. I am a monk, not a politician.”
Maharaj also took to the streets, launching a statewide protest demanding an apology from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Who Is Kartik Maharaj? Kartik Maharaj joined the Bharat Sevashram Sangha as a teenager and became a leader in his early 20s. He was assigned to Beldanga, Murshidabad, where he developed an ashram and contributed to building schools and hospitals. He is also credited with promoting girls’ education in the region. Despite his significant social work, Kartik Maharaj asserts that he has never been involved in politics.