Lucknow: Attacking Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav over his remarks on Ram temple donation theft issue, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday challenged him to openly support a movement for the “liberation” of the Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura.Addressing a public meeting in Hathras, Yogi said: “Akhilesh ji, now talk about Mathura. If you are truly trying to present yourself as religious, then speak openly about Mathura, Vrindavan and Krishna Janmabhoomi. Say that, just like the Ram Janmabhoomi liberation movement, a campaign should also be launched for the liberation of Krishna Janmabhoomi.”Reacting to Akhilesh’s statement that if his party is voted to power, he would develop Ayodhya into an “inimitable” sacred city. Yogi said that Lord Ram’s devotees have already transformed Ayodhya.“You say your govt will make Ayodhya a religious city. What religious city will you make? Look at your own history. It was your party’s govt that ordered firing on Ram’s devotees,” Yogi said.“Don’t worry about Ayodhya. Repent. Visit Ram Lalla once, and at least that will bring you some wisdom. Now, prepare so that we can also do something for Lord Krishna,” he said.Asserting that Lord Krishna’s birthplace also deserved respect, Yogi said that the opposition lacked the courage to speak on the issue.“Our govt is working on a war footing to provide all basic facilities to devotees coming to Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi. The Samajwadi Party does not have courage because its entire agenda is limited only to the politics of appeasement,” he said.He said Ayodhya regained its identity under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the efforts of Ram devotees, adding that the city didn’t need the Samajwadi Party’s endorsement.Yogi also accused previous Samajwadi Party govts of neglecting places of worship, stating that funds now used for temple development were previously spent elsewhere. “Before 2017, money meant for development was spent on building boundary walls of graveyards. We have diverted those funds towards temples because they are centres of our faith. We need temples, not graveyards,” he said.“Before 2017, riots, curfews and the mafia had become the identity of Uttar Pradesh. Today, the state has emerged as a model of development and security,” he said.“Around 12,000 Muharram processions were taken out across the state, yet there was no riot, disturbance or curfew anywhere. Strong law and order is the foundation for development,” he remarked.Along with the Samajwadi Party, the CM also attacked the Congress, saying that during the Lok Sabha elections, both parties talked about saving the Constitution, whereas the biggest murder of the Constitution in the country was committed by the Congress by imposing the Emergency on June 25, 1975.“The Congress strangled the Constitution. At that time, all the opposition leaders who raised the voice of democracy were put in jail. Congress had also insulted Mulayam Singh Yadav and sent him to jail,” he said.“The Samajwadi Party is now standing with the Congress and is insulting the legacy of Mulayam Singh Yadav,” Yogi said.Appealing to the public to be cautious of such parties, he said that the development of the state, the preservation of cultural heritage and respect for the centres of faith have been possible only under the double engine govt.The CM also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 143 development projects worth over Rs 548 crore for the Hathras, Sikandra Rao and Sadabad assembly constituencies.During the programme, he distributed house keys under housing schemes, smartphones, Ayushman cards and cheques under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Yojana to beneficiaries.
