Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, slammed Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, alleging that in the last two months, all his posts on social media platforms were against the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
He also criticised the SP for opposing the development of key areas, particularly in Ayodhya, and its stance on Sanatan Dharma.
Addressing an election meeting in bypoll-bound Milkipur assembly constituency in support of Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Chandrabhan Paswan, Yogi accused the SP of being “hurt” by any progress that strengthens Sanatan Dharma and national pride.
The chief minister charged that for the past two months, the SP president has been voicing opposition to the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh on social media platform ‘X’, despite the event drawing 34 crore devotees from across the world. Continuing his blistering attack on the SP, Yogi Adityanath said that the party’s “profession” was crime and hooliganism.
He emphasised that the Maha Kumbh, which witnessed dignitaries such as the Vice President of India and ambassadors from various countries, received global praise, but the SP appeared to be pained by such displays of national pride.
The chief minister also highlighted the development strides made in Ayodhya under the BJP leadership. He mentioned how the efforts of the double-engine government had transformed the city’s infrastructure, including four-lane roads, expanded railway stations and the international airport. He claimed that without these developments, millions of devotees would not be able to visit Ayodhya every day.
Chief Minister Yogi also revealed that during road widening projects, compensation worth over Rs 1,700 crore was given, yet the SP opposed these advancements.
The chief minister remarked, “Whenever we initiated development projects in Ayodhya, such as naming the airport after Maharishi Valmiki and naming night shelters after Nishadraj Guhya, the SP opposed them.”
He staid the government had formed three women’s battalions of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) in Uttar Pradesh – Virangana Uda Devi, Jhalkari Bai, and Avanti Bai Lodhi. He pointed out that the SP had opposed this initiative at the time. He also criticised the SP for opposing the Vijay Smarak of Maharaja Suheldev in Bahraich, advocating instead for a memorial to Ghazi.
Yogi accused the SP of endorsing individuals with criminal backgrounds. He referred to Milkipur’s Moeed Khan and Kannauj’s Nawab Singh Yadav as individuals favoured by the SP, despite their alleged involvement in immoral and unlawful activities.
Chief Minister Yogi further accused the SP of siding with anti-India elements and criminals, mentioning incidents like the brutal killing of a Dalit daughter in Mainpuri during the assembly by-election. He claimed that similar incidents, like a recent crime in Ayodhya, were likely connected to SP members.
He said that the city had seen a tremendous increase in tourist visits, with 16.11 crore devotees visiting Ayodhya in 2024, compared to just 2.35 lakh under the SP government in 2016. He emphasised that this transformation was a direct result of the BJP government’s efforts to improve the infrastructure and provide opportunities for businesses and religious tourism.
“We want to extend this model of development to Milkipur as well, just like we have done in Ayodhya,” he added.
Chief Minister Yogi stated that the election had become a battle between nationalism and nepotism. He contrasted the candidacy of BJP’s Chandrabhan Paswan, who stands for nationalism, with that of the SP’s candidate, who is allegedly tied to land mafia and immoral activities. The chief minister asserted that the SP’s focus on family interests and caste-based politics hindered the region’s development.
Chief Minister Yogi emphasised Ayodhya’s development, pointing to the introduction of steamers for river tours on the Saryu river as a prime example. He noted that this progress is evident to all who visit the city, despite disapproval from the SP.
Referring to the SP’s earlier warning that Ayodhya’s resolution would lead to “rivers of blood”, Chief Minister Yogi responded by saying those who sought to incite such turmoil are now gone and have no place in the present.
The Milkipur by-election is scheduled for February 5, with votes to be counted on February 8. The Congress, an ally of the SP in the INDIA bloc, has decided not to field any candidate from Milkipur and has instead pledged support for the SP candidate.
For the bypolls, the SP has fielded Ajit Prasad, the son of Awadhesh Prasad. The BJP has fielded Chandrabhan Paswan as its candidate.