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Yogi took on the Opposition over “misinformation” on ongoing Maha Kumbh and said that the event is being conducted successfully. He also slammed Mamata, Lalu and Akhilesh for their remarks on Kumbh.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (PTI Image)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Opposition over their remarks on the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj and said that bids are underway to “malign” the largest religious congregation by spreading “misinformation”.
Yogi slammed remarks by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, RJD chief Lalu Yadav and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and said that the Maha Kumbh is not an organisation by the Uttar Pradesh government but by the society and their statements hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community.
Yogi also addressed the Opposition’s allegations of water being contaminated at the Maha Kumbh and said that the water is “absolutely fine’ to take a dip in. Over 55.56 crore people have taken a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam so far, including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various other top personalities in the country and the world.
Yogi Slams Opposition Over Bid To ‘Malign’ Maha Kumbh
“There is a bid to malign Maha Kumbh. Yeh Maha Kumbh sarkar ka nahi hai, samaaj ka aayojan hai (This Maha Kumbh is not organised by the government; it is an event organized by society). We successfully are conducting the Maha Kumbh Mela despite the misinformation being spread,” the Chief Minister said while addressing the Assembly during his reply to the Governor’s address.
“Whenever we speak against Maha Kumbh or show a fake video on Maha Kumbh, then it hurts the beliefs of the crores of people,” he added.
Yogi accused the Opposition of opposing the religious congregation from day 1 and “spreading lies and rumours” about the Kumbh Mela.
“The Samajwadi Party has been speaking against the organisation of Maha Kumbh since day 1,” Yogi said.
Yogi Slams Mamata, Akhilesh And Lalu
Yogi tore into Akhilesh, Mamata, and RJD chief Lalu Yadav for their remarks on the Maha Kumbh and said that they are targeting the Sanatan Dharma.
The Chief Minister lashed out at Lalu for his remarks against Maha Kumbh and also took a jibe at Akhilesh who also took a holy dip in Triveni Sangam last month.
“Lalu said yeh faltu ka kumbh hai, he targeted the Sanatan Dharma. The leaders opposing Maha Kumbh secretly took a dip in the Kumbh. The Samajwadi Party used uncivilised words against Maha Kumbh,” Yogi said.
On Mamata’s statement, he asked, “yeh kya statement hai? (What kind of statement is this?)
Mamata, in an attack on the Yogi government, had said that Maha Kumbh has turned to “Mrityu Kumbh”, a remark which was backed by Akhilesh Yadav.
Lalu Yadav had said that Kumbh is meaningless, while Akhilesh had said that the UP government had coined the term “Maha” Kumbh to “waste” public money.
Yogi Targets Opposition Over ‘Polluted Water’ Claim
Refuting the Opposition’s claims over water pollution, Yogi said that those making such remarks “have no knowledge about Maha Kumbh” and clarified that water is fine to take a dip in.
“Misinformation is being spread that Kumbh water quality is deteriorating. Kumbh water is absolutely fine to take a dip. The UP pollution control board is continuously monitoring the cleanliness of the water. All imminent leaders from the country and the world have taken the dip in Maha Kumbh. It is santushtikaran, not tushtikaran taking a dip in Kumbh,” Yogi said.
Notably, the Opposition has been alleging that the water quality in the Maha Kumbh, where over 50 crore devotees have taken a holy dip so far, has deteriorated and is “contaminated”.
Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan had claimed that the Kumbh water is “most contaminated” at the moment.
“… Where is the water most contaminated right now? It’s in Kumbh. Bodies (of those who died in the stampede) have been thrown in the river because of which the water has been contaminated… The real issues are not being addressed. The common people visiting Kumbh are not receiving any special treatment, there is no arrangement for them,” she had said.
