PRAYAGRAJ, Jan. 20 -- Even as Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati continued his protest on the second day on Monday over his palanquin having been stopped on the way to the Sangam on Sunday, the Magh Mela administration reiterated that he was not insulted during Mauni Amavasya.

Shankaracharya told reporters on Monday that his movement plan for Mauni Amavasya had been shared with the Mela administration three days in advance through WhatsApp after the office staff allegedly refused to accept a written application.

"It is a tradition for the Shankaracharya to go for the holy dip in a palanquin. If officials think a Shankaracharya needs permission from them, they are mistaken. My disciples were manhandled and brutally attacke...