Kanpur (UP), Oct 26: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday targeted Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav over his remarks on infiltrators, asking why he was so fond of Bangladeshi and Pakistani infiltrators.
He also accused the SP and Congress of opposing citizenship for persecuted minorities while helping illegal immigrants.
Addressing a programme at Bithoor here on Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti, Adityanath took a swipe at the SP and Congress over their opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), alleging they had an inherent hostility towards Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs.
"Why do you have so much love for Bangladeshi infiltrators, Akhilesh ji? Pakistani infiltrators who work to snatch the rights of the poor here -- it is not just during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls that you and your party have forcibly got the names of these infiltrators included, thereby depriving the poor here of their rights. You have continuously indulged in such mischief," he said.
"When an infiltrator comes, he does not come alone. These are the very people who get ration cards made for them and, after getting the ration cards made, ensure that the ration meant for the poor reaches them. And this was the reason why, before 2017, the poor used to starve, farmers were forced to commit suicide, daughters' safety was at risk and nobody felt secure. Foreign infiltrators would come and occupy land wherever they pleased," the chief minister alleged.
Adityanath said the Citizenship Amendment Act provided for citizenship and a dignified life to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs who had been forced to leave Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan and had been living in India for more than five years.
"Remember, the Samajwadi Party and the Congress opposed this. That means they have an inherent enmity towards Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. They harbour this hostility by birth. They opposed it at that time, indulged in vandalism and attempted arson. They also attempted violent incidents in Kanpur," he alleged.
The CM's remarks came amid a political row over Yadav's recent statement in Lucknow that the biggest infiltrators in Uttar Pradesh were from Uttarakhand, an apparent dig at Adityanath, who was born in the hill state.
The statement triggered protests in Uttarakhand, with the BJP and various organisations staging demonstrations and burning effigies of the SP chief at several places.
Adityanath also accused the SP of attempting to divide society and said its return to power would revive the state's earlier atmosphere of violence and lawlessness.
"The friendship between Lord Ram and Nishad Raj symbolises how the end of demonic rule came about. As long as this friendship continues, the SP and Congress are destined to be wiped out," he said, referring to the alliance between Lord Ram and Nishad Raj in the Ramayana.
Targeting the SP over its earlier tenure, he said, "Akhilesh ji, you got power once through inheritance. A clay pot cannot be put on the fire again and again. The people of the state have sent you packing after seeing your deeds. Stop dreaming of returning to power. Remember, a throne may come to someone once through inheritance, but wisdom does not. One has to work for wisdom and come down to the ground."
Adityanath also alleged that the SP and Congress had obstructed the construction of the Ram temple and the development of Ayodhya. He said the BJP government had developed Ayodhya and other religious sites while giving due recognition to the state's cultural heritage.
Taking a swipe at the SP, he said, "The SP means riots. The SP means corruption. The SP means dynastic politics. The SP means playing with the lives of the youth. The SP means lawlessness in the state."
He further warned people against trusting the party, saying it was now invoking Lord Ram despite its past opposition to the Ram temple movement.
"They will come wearing new disguises. Now even the Samajwadi Party is chanting the name of Ram. But remember, you are Bajrangis. Bajrangi can recognise Kalanemi (mythical demon from Ramayana who changed his personality to trick Lord Hanuman). Do not trust these people," he said.
Adityanath also referred to the 1931 Kanpur riots, recalling the killing of journalist Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi while he was trying to save innocent Hindus. He alleged that the father of BJP MLA Rahul Bachcha Sonkar was also killed by rioters.
He said the BJP government had ensured a peaceful atmosphere in the state, citing the recent Dussehra celebrations as an example.
The CM said the government was providing free ration to 16 crore people, housing to 65 lakh poor families under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Ayushman Bharat benefits to 10 crore people in the state. He also said two crore people were benefiting from the Ujjwala scheme and that free LPG cylinders would be provided to eligible beneficiaries for Diwali.
Adityanath said the government had also developed the Brahmavart Ghat and Maharshi Valmiki's ashram at Bithoor, besides building a memorial to Nana Saheb Peshwa and Tatya Tope, leaders of the 1857 uprising.
On the occasion, the CM dedicated development projects, 29 inauguration and 21 foundation laying, worth over Rs 411 crore in Bithoor and Bilhaur assembly constituencies of Kanpur.
