6 days Ago By TOI News Desk
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath , in an exclusive interview with news agency ANI, addressed critical issues spanning politics, governance, and religious matters while taking strong positions on several topics. The interview covered significant ground, from allegations of foreign interference in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections to the state's contentious bulldozer policy. The chief minister also expressed his stance on the ongoing row over remarks made by comedian Kunal Kamra during his show in Mumbai.
Here are highlights from his interview: 'If Hindus are safe, then Muslims are also safe' The Uttar Pradesh chief minister affirmed that people from all religions are safe in the state, emphasising that communal harmony is maintained when Hindus feel secure. He said, "If Hindus are safe, then Muslims are also safe. In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims are the safest.
Before 2017, riots would see both Hindu and Muslim properties burning. After 2017, riots stopped." "A Muslim family is the safest among a hundred Hindu families.
But can 50 Hindus be safe among 100 Muslim families? No. Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan are examples," Yogi said. Speaking about Sanatan Dharma , he called it the world's oldest religion and said, "Sanatan Dharma followers have never sought to convert others or establish dominion over them.
We see the world as a family." "A Muslim family is the safest among a hundred Hindu families. They will have the freedom to practice all their religious deeds.
But can 50 Hindus be safe among 100 Muslim families? No. Bangladesh is an example. Before this, Pakistan was an example.
What happened in Afghanistan? If there is smoke or someone is being hit, we should be careful before we get hit. That is what needs to be taken care of," Yogi said, while adding that he treats everyone equally. Yogi targets opposition Yogi accused the opposition of using foreign funds to influence the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with the Congress and INDIA bloc being directly involved.
He accused NGOs, social media platforms, and digital media of being used to spread false propaganda against the BJP. He pointed to billionaire investor George Soros as one of the figures allegedly involved in financing these efforts and warned that further revelations would expose more details. "Congress and opposition parties did propaganda and they had not only spread propaganda, but foreign money was also involved in it.
George Soros had already announced it...
Many facts will come to light. Through NGOs, social media platforms, digital media, they spread propaganda on a large-scale propaganda in various parts of the country that BJP will change the constitution, if PM Modi will come, they will bring a new constitution, all kinds of things they have said," CM Yogi Adityanath told ANI. "I am saying that foreign money was involved in the Lok Sabha elections throughout the country in which Congress and other parties of the INDIA bloc were directly involved in it and through that, they tried to influence the elections.
This action falls under the category of treason. You are taking money from a foreign power and influencing the country's elections," he added. 'Mrityunjay Mahakumbh, not Mrityu Kumbh' Yogi Adityanath strongly defended ' Maha kumbh ' amid opposition criticism, particularly from West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee , who labelled it "Mrityu Kumbh" following a stampede incident that claimed lives of .
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. "Every day from Bengal, from January 13 to February 26, 50,000 to 100,000 devotees used to come to Prayagraj. The West Bengal Government got scared to see the crowd as their railway stations and airports were filled with people heading to Prayagraj.
.. Whether it is the West Bengal Government, the Congress, the RJD, or the Samajwadi Party, whatever they have said about the Mahakumbh is an example of their appeasement.
It is an example of insulting the faith of India. But the Mahakumbh has proved that it was a Mrityunjay Mahakumbh," the UP CM stated. 'Rahul jaise kuch namune rehne chahiye' He further mocked Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, branding it as "Bharat Todo Abhiyan", and accused him of tarnishing India’s image on foreign soil.
"Rahul jaise kuch namune rehne chahiye jisse ek rasta hamesha ke liye saaf hota rahe aur acha rahe", Adityanath said, suggesting that Gandhi’s political presence ultimately benefits the BJP. On Bulldozer action Responding to criticism over his government's "bulldozer action," Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath defended the policy, stating that those who take the law into their own hands will face consequences within the legal framework. "Those who believe in justice, justice is done for them.
Those who take justice and law into their own hands, they are taught a lesson within the framework of law. It should be explained in the language they understand," Adityanath said. Justifying strong action against criminals, he said that if someone resorts to violence, the government must respond accordingly.
"If someone comes as a violent person to attack us, should we stand in front of him? No, if he comes as a violent person, we will have to respond to his violence there," he added. 'Jitne bhi honge sab dhundenge' Yogi Adityanath vowed to revive as many temples as present in Sambhal. He said that the authorities have till now identified more than 54 pilgrimage sites in the city, and efforts are underway to locate the remaining ones.
"Jitne bhi honge, sab dhundenge. Jo Bhagwan ne aankh di hai, wo dekhe ki Sambhal mein kya hua. Sambhal satya hai," he declared.
He also questioned the legitimacy of mosques built on ruins of vandalised Hindu temples arguing that Islam itself does not recognise places of worship constructed by destroying others. Regarding the Mathura mosque dispute, Adityanath maintained that the state government is abiding by the court’s directives but hinted at potential action, saying, "Who knows what could have happened by now?" 'Unfortunate..
. law should take action': Adityanath on Kunal Kamra row In relation to Kunal Kamra's recent remark on Eknath Shinde, Yogi Adityanath said that the freedom of expression does not mean that individuals can use it to attack someone else, adding that law should take action against such people "who are creating differences in the country." "Freedom of expression is in the realm of law.
It should be in the realm of constitutional values. And in that realm, there is freedom of expression. The freedom of your personality cannot be used to attack someone else.
It is unfortunate that some people have considered the freedom of this individual as their birthright to divide the country and increase the division. And I feel that the law should take action against such people who are creating a difference in the country," CM Yogi said..
