NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that people should stop praising foreign invaders because when the truth like Sambhal is revealed it would leave them speechless.
Speaking at the ‘Manthan-Mahakumbh and Beyond’ program, organised by Panchajanya and Organizer in Lucknow, the CM stressed the need to respect places of worship and the significance of preserving religious sites.
Addressing the crowd, CM Yogi emphasized that it was unacceptable for anyone to forcibly occupy a place of worship.
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He referred to Sambhal, stating, “Sambhal is the truth. I respect all sects and religions, but it is not acceptable if someone forcibly occupies a place and destroys someone’s faith. There were 68 pilgrimage sites in Sambhal, and we have so far identified only 18. For the first time in 56 years, Jalabhishek was performed at a Shiva temple there,” he said.
Sambhal is mentioned in scriptures that are 5,000 years old and predate Islam. the temple of Hari Vishnu in Sambhal was destroyed in 1526, he said.
Yogi Adityanath further slammed the glorification of foreign invaders, citing a statement made by the President of Indonesia on Republic Day.
“The President of Indonesia recently said that when his DNA is tested, it will be of India. Those who are using India’s resources should first get their DNA tested. Stop praising foreign invaders because when truths like Sambhal emerge, no one will be able to show their face,” he added.
The CM also highlighted the importance of the Maha Kumbh, describing it as a true representation of Sanatan Dharma. “The Maha Kumbh is a glimpse into the true essence of Sanatan Dharma. It gave the world a vision of India’s identity, showing the world what India truly stands for: ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ (One India, Best India),” he said.
In his address, chief minister Yogi also took a swipe at the Congress for its negative remarks about the Maha Kumbh. “They oppose every good initiative. The first Kumbh Mela after independence was held in 1954 when Congress was in power, and it was marked by corruption, disorder, and chaos. Over 1,000 deaths were reported, and this continued at every Kumbh Mela afterward. This is a fact that cannot be hidden,” Yogi remarked.
Additionally, CM Yogi criticised Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav for questioning the cleanliness of the upcoming Maha Kumbh in 2025. He reminded the audience of the disarray during the 2013 Kumbh when the Prime Minister of Mauritius visited Prayagraj.
“When the Prime Minister of Mauritius visited Prayagraj in 2013 and went to Sangam, he saw the filth, chaos, and mud. He was unable to take a dip and had to offer his respects from a distance, with tears in his eyes. Those making negative comments today were responsible for creating such an environment of filth and disorder in the past,” Yogi said.
(With agency inputs)