Hitting out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his "would not take much time for UP to become Kashmir, Kerala, and Bengal" barb, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Thursday, 10 February, said the former should consider himself lucky, as Jammu & Kashmir had less poverty, less crime, and better human development indices.
Abdullah's comments came hours after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that UP would enjoy better amenities and facilities if it turned into Kerala.
"He should be so lucky. J&K has less poverty, better human development indices, less crime & generally better standards of living than UP. What we lack is good governance over the last 3-4 years but that is a temporary phenomenon [sic]," Omar Abdullah tweeted on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Vijayan had tweeted "If UP turns into Kerala as Yogi Adityanath fears, it will enjoy the best education, health services, social welfare, living standards and have a harmonious society in which people won't be murdered in the name of religion and caste. That's what the people of UP would want."
He also tweeted the same in Hindi.
What Had Yogi Adityanath Said?
Ahead of polling in the state, Adityanath had credited his government with "a lot of wonderful things," which he claimed, "have happened in these five years under the double engine government." He went on to attack other states and say:
"I have to tell you something that is there in my heart. You have seen it yourself. Beware! If you falter, the labour of these five years will be spoiled. It would not take much time for Uttar Pradesh to become Kashmir, Kerala, and Bengal."Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh CM
The state of Uttar Pradesh went to the polls on Thursday. Polling will be carried out in seven phases, and the results will be announced on 10 March.
‘Your Time Is Up’: Congress
Meanwhile, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor said in a tweet, "UP will turn into Kashmir, Bengal or Kerala if BJP doesn't come to power, @myogiadityanath tells voters. UP should be so lucky!! Kashmir's beauty, Bengal's culture & Kerala's education would do wonders for the place. UP's wonderful: pity about its Govt. (sic)"
Further, Congress leader KC Venugopal said, "Gentle reminder Dear Yogi ji!! Kerala is as much an integral part of India as is UP, as is J&K, as is TN, as is West Bengal, as is Rajasthan, as are all States."
He added:
"Stop dividing our people on the basis of region and religion simply because you have zero achievements to ask votes on."
Responding to Adityanath's barb, Congress' Kerala unit said in a tweet, "Mr Shame-of-a-Yogi, your time is up. Wise voters will vote today to prevent their state from becoming a Syria or Afghanistan! Youth and women who want safety, education and jobs will reject you. Stop blabbering and apologise for making UP a lawless and backward state."
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