Previous Govt Spent Money on Kabristan, We’re Spending on Teerths: CM Adityanath

Adityanath said in his speech, “The Ram temple in Ayodhya is being built because of PM Modi."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Image used for representation.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

While addressing a public event in Uttar Pradesh’s (UP's) Mathura on Wednesday, 8 December, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reused the ‘kabristan’ remark to attack the previous UP governments and alleged that they used to spend money on building the boundaries of kabristans (graveyards), while his government has been spending money on developing teerths (Hindu pilgrim centres).

Adityanath announced projects worth Rs 201 crore on Wednesday, and reiterated that “Now, rituals are being organised on a grand scale and the saints are given respect. The Kumbh is a great example of reliving a 5,000-year-old tradition.”

Further expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Ram temple construction, Adityanath asked, “The Ram temple in Ayodhya is being built because of PM Modi. Would this temple have been built by the Congress? Would it have been built by the BSP?”

Referring to former chief minister and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Adityanath stated, “And what can one even say about babua.”

“Babua would have gone on abbajaan’s path and would have ordered firing during the Ram Temple construction. If they had time left from giving protection to terrorists, they would have thought about your astha (faith) development, women empowerment, temples. On one side, there is the Ram bhakt government, and on the other side, there are those who shoot Ram bhakts,” he added, making a reference to Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav.

Adityanath’s speech comes just two days after heavy security was deployed to avoid any untoward incident in Mathura on the 29th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolitions. The Babri Masjid was demolished on 6 December 1992.

Notably, the security had also been deployed in view of a call, which was later retracted, given by Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha to carry out Hindu rituals and placing a Krishna idol in the Shahi Masjid Idga, next to the Katra Keshav Dev temple complex in Mathura.

Stating that the ‘soul’ of the country resides in Uttar Pradesh, Adityanath said in his speech, “This is the place where Krishna was born and through his birth he blessed it. Because of this land, and through his leelas, 5,000 years ago, Krishna gave directions for the future."

Further alleging that the previous governments tried to tarnish UP's image, Adityanath claimed that government schemes were reserved only for “four VIP districts," but they were now being implemented across the state.

“Earlier only one family was enjoying benefits, now 25 crore people of the state are getting them,” he added.