PRAYAGRAJ, Jan. 26 -- Amid the standoff between Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and the Mela administration since January 18, deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has once again appealed to the saint to end his protest and take a holy dip in the Sangam to send out a positive message. Speaking to the media at the Circuit House late on Sunday evening, Maurya said he has had no scheduled meeting with the Shankaracharya. "I have requested the revered Shankaracharya to kindly end his protest and take a dip in the holy Sangam to give a positive message. I again humbly appeal that if he ends the protest and takes the dip," he said. Responding to the remark attributed to the Shankaracharya suggesting that Maurya should be CM, Maurya said, "He is a great saint, a Jagadguru Shankaracharya. It would not be appropriate for me to comment against him. He is a revered Shankaracharya, not a politician. Deciding who should be CM is the party's responsibility. We respect him and heartily welcome him to the Magh Mela."htc...