New Delhi, May 5 -- 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 Temp...