Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, calling him a “namuna” (specimen) and alleging that the party deliberately kept the Ayodhya controversy alive for decades. In an interview with ANI, he criticized the Congress for failing to fulfill developmental promises and accused them of obstructing India’s progress.
CM Yogi questioned the Congress’s contributions over the last six to ten decades, particularly regarding key national issues.
“Why didn’t they do it earlier? Why did Congress always want to keep Ayodhya a controversy? Today, India stands united behind PM Modi, yet Congress failed to provide world-class infrastructure, promote events like the Kumbh Mela with pride, or abolish triple talaq,” he stated.
Highlighting the transformation of Ayodhya and the construction of the Ram Mandir, CM Yogi noted, “Lakhs of people are coming every day to witness the new Ayodhya. The Congress never wanted this to happen.”
Criticizing Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, CM Yogi labeled it as “Bharat Todo Abhiyan”, alleging that the Congress leader’s intentions were well known.
“Rahul criticizes India outside India. The country knows his nature. In Indian politics, people like Rahul should exist so that the path remains clear for the BJP,” he quipped.
Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra spanned 3,970 km across 12 states and two Union territories, concluding in Srinagar after 130 days. However, CM Yogi dismissed its impact, asserting that people have seen through the Congress’s strategies.
CM Yogi also took aim at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, stating that those who praise Muhammad Ali Jinnah should not lecture others on history.
“In our culture, it is said that you become what you worship. We worship Ram, Krishna, and Shiva, and we inherit their virtues. Those who glorify Aurangzeb and Babar, however, carry those traits,” he remarked.
He reminded people of past incidents where opposition leaders expressed admiration for figures like Jinnah, contrasting them with the BJP’s reverence for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
“While we honored Sardar Patel as a symbol of India’s unity, these people praised Jinnah. They belong to the same category—the same mindset that reveres Babar, Aurangzeb, and Jinnah. What feelings can they possibly have for India’s heritage?” CM Yogi questioned.
The Uttar Pradesh CM’s remarks were in response to a 2021 statement by Akhilesh Yadav, where he had mentioned that Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Jinnah all studied in the same institution and played roles in India’s freedom struggle.
