Sankaracharya asks people to participate in democratic process

"To protect the country and its democratic system, people should remain alert and exercise their franchise in the elections", Sankaracharya told reporters here.

"Corruption is increasing day by day due to multiple parties and coalitions", he said replying a question on increasing corruption.

"Politicians had been indulging in corruption due to uncertainty in their future and governments in the states and at the Centre," he said.

Replying to a question of bringing back the huge black money deposited in foreign banks, Sankaracharya said because of "faulty" Income tax system, rich people and political leaders have taken money out of country on the pretext of safe deposit.

"To avoid income tax they have done so. People will not get back the money to our country as they are to show in the income tax", he said.

Strongly criticising conversion, he said government should keep eye on the conversion. The foreign money coming to different religious organisations should come through the government. "Why and what purpose and from whom it is coming the government should keep track over it", he said.