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New Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) Taking a dig at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said those who once mocked faith and painted the streets of Ayodhya with the blood of Ram devotees and kar sevaks are now troubled by the brightness of more than 26 lakh lamps.
CM Yogi further said that “these lamps prepared by the local Prajapati and potter communities are not only a symbol of devotion but also provide livelihood opportunities, which the “Ram-haters” find difficult to accept.
The CM was speaking at the coronation ceremony of Lord Ram held at Ramkatha Park, where he also honored the revered saints associated with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
His comments come a day after Akhilesh Yadav created a major political controversy with his remarks questioning the need to spend huge sums of money on lighting lamps and candles during Diwali.
His remarks have drawn sharp reaction from several BJP leaders, who have accused him of “insulting Hindu traditions” and “showing contempt for Indian culture”.
Speaking on Saturday, Yadav said, “Around the world, cities get beautifully illuminated during Christmas, and these festive lights can last for months. We should take inspiration from this. Why do we need to spend money on lamps and candles and think too much about the process? We should rethink what to expect from the government; perhaps this should be changed. We will ensure that there are more amazing lights in the future.”
The statement sparked outrage within the BJP, with many leaders criticizing Yadav for his “disrespectful” attitude towards Diwali and Sanatan traditions.
BJP national spokesperson and MP Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters, “The entire country is celebrating Diwali with joy and happiness, especially after the GST cut. Despite this, Akhilesh Yadav’s statement that he sees a problem in Diwali lamps is highly condemnable.”
“This comes from the same mentality that the Indian faction calls for the abolition of Sanatan Dharma, or the same ideology that Rahul Gandhi follows when he says, ‘Hinduism is powerful, and I have to fight it.’ This shows their dislike for Indian culture and Hinduism.”
He said, “Why do you (Akhilesh Yadav) want to snatch this from them? It is clear that the mentality of the Indian camp is in darkness, and in the light of Diwali lamps it is visible how much they hate Indian culture and Hindu traditions.”
Similarly, now many leaders from the BJP camp have also jumped into this controversy to target the former CM and as Bihar elections approach, this matter is likely to gain more importance.
–IANS
SAS/UK