The seer has been especially critical of Saibaba, saying in July 2014 that he should not be worshipped along with Hindu gods since he was "a Muslim fakir". After a PIL was filed against him for his remarks, Saraswati was forced to tender an apology in September last year.

Said whatever has been written in religious texts: Swami Swaroopanand on right to pray

HARIDWAR: The shankaracharya of the Dwarka-Sharda peeth, Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, has said the 2013 flash floods in Kedarnath were caused by the "unholy things done by honeymooners and picnickers".The statement, made on Tuesday, is the latest in a string of controversial remarks made by the seer during his ongoing 16-day trip to Haridwar. Since last week, the 92-year-old has not only said that the entry of women in the sanctum sanctorum of Shani Shingnapur would lead to an increase in crime against them, but also blamed the drought in Maharashtra on the worship of Saibaba. In fact, the seer has been known for his volatile views ever since he became the shankaracharya in 1982. In February this year, for instance, he attacked ISKCON as a "front for money laundering". He has not spared RSS either, saying that while the organisation "claims to be working for Hinduism, thousands of RSS workers in Arunachal Pradesh eat beef."The seer has been especially critical of Saibaba, saying in July 2014 that he should not be worshipped along with Hindu gods since he was "a Muslim fakir". After a PIL was filed against him for his remarks, Saraswati was forced to tender an apology in September last year.