HARIDWAR: Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati kicked up controversy today by saying that abrogation of article 370 can pave the way for striking a "demographic balance" in Jammu and Kashmir which is necessary to put an end to recurring strifes in the state.
"Tension does not erupt in places where there is a demographic balance of communities. Take Punjab for instance. Hindus and Sikhs are in equal number there. They need each other and so there is no room for a clash between them.
The growing morale of anti-national elements in Kashmir is a result of the country's weak laws," Saraswati told reporters here.
"The Union government should revoke article 370 in Kashmir which will permit influx of people from outside the state into the state's population and end its strife-torn atmosphere.
"The return of Kashmiri Pandits to their home state alone can counter the growing morale of anti-national elements in the state," Saraswati who is the Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth Badrikashram said.
He also advocated a uniform civil law for Hindus and Muslims in India to maintain a balance in their population.
Deploring the fact that Hindus in their pursuit of the ideal of secularism don't teach their children about their religion, Swaroopanand wondered why Prime Minister Narendra Modi who presents Bhagwad Geeta to foreign dignitaries and heads of states should not hand the scripture to an Indian child.
Swaroopnand had earlier landed in a controversy when he had objected to installation of Sai Baba's statues in Hindu temples.