MOHAMMAD ZIYAUDDIN
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Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, accusing his government of mishandling the 2013 Maha Kumbh. He specifically criticized SP leader Azam Khan, who was the event’s in-charge, calling him a “non-Sanatani”.
The ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj has been under scrutiny from the opposition, which has raised concerns about mismanagement. Responding to these allegations, Yogi Adityanath highlighted the massive turnout at the event, stating:
"If there were no world-class facilities, 63 crore devotees from India and abroad wouldn’t have attended the Maha Kumbh. This number is expected to cross 65 crore by February 26."
"We Did Not Play with Religious Sentiments": Yogi Adityanath
Reacting to the opposition’s allegations, the Chief Minister dismissed claims that devotees were stopped from entering the Kumbh on caste or religious grounds.
“Those who go with goodwill are always welcome. But if someone goes with malicious intent, they will face trouble.”
Criticizing the previous SP government, he said:
“Unlike the Samajwadi Party, we did not play with the religious sentiments of people. Akhilesh Yadav did not even have time to monitor the Kumbh arrangements, and instead, he made a non-Sanatani in charge of it.”
"2013 Maha Kumbh Was Full of Chaos, Corruption, and Pollution"
Yogi Adityanath compared the 2013 Maha Kumbh under Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership to the current event, claiming that the past edition was plagued by mismanagement and corruption.
“Whoever attended the 2013 Kumbh witnessed nothing but chaos, corruption, and pollution. The Triveni Sangam (Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati) was so polluted that it was unfit for bathing.”
He recalled an embarrassing moment for India, stating:
"Even the Prime Minister of Mauritius refused to take a bath in the 2013 Kumbh due to the poor water quality."
Maha Kumbh 2025: A Grand Success?
The ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj is being hailed as one of the largest religious gatherings in history, with record-breaking footfall. The BJP government has positioned it as a symbol of India’s cultural pride, while the opposition continues to question its management.
As political tensions rise, will Yogi Adityanath’s claims silence critics, or will the opposition’s concerns find traction? The battle over Maha Kumbh’s legacy continues.
