Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Monday targeted the Samajwadi Party over its approach to religious issues, saying it gets as “irritated” at the mention of Lord Ram as Mughal emperor Babur did, and called on BJP workers to counter what he described as attempts to divide society on caste lines.
Addressing a conference of “Shakti Kendra” convenors from the BJP’s western Uttar Pradesh region in Meerut, Adityanath also accused the SP, BSP and Congress of promoting dynastic politics and casteism. BJP national president Nitin Nabin, who began a two-day visit to western Uttar Pradesh Monday as the party steps up preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections, was present at the event.
‘Bajrangi devotees will reply’
“The SP gets as irritated at the mere mention of the name of Lord Ram as Babur did,” Adityanath said, accusing the party of creating hurdles in religious events. “Only the devotees of ‘Bajrangi’ (Lord Hanuman) can give a befitting reply to Babur’s followers and that is precisely why we have come here to call upon all of you,” he told BJP workers.
The Chief Minister alleged that attempts were being made to divide society on caste lines and urged party workers not to allow historical and religious figures to be confined to individual caste identities. He said such figures belonged to society as a whole.
Adityanath also accused previous governments of obstructing religious and cultural events, while presenting the BJP’s record on religious sites as evidence of what he described as a change in approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Targets SP, BSP, Congress
Broadening his attack on the Opposition, Adityanath accused the SP, BSP and Congress of having afflicted politics with “dynastic politics and casteism”. He alleged that these parties had treated political power as a means to advance family and personal interests rather than public service.
The Opposition parties have repeatedly rejected similar allegations from the BJP and, in turn, accused the ruling party of using religion and communal polarisation for electoral purposes.
Adityanath said the BJP’s organisational philosophy placed the country above the party and the party above the individual. He called on Shakti Kendra convenors to strengthen booth-level organisation and maintain contact with voters ahead of the next Assembly election.
The meeting formed part of the BJP’s organisational exercise in western Uttar Pradesh, with Nabin reviewing the party’s preparedness from the booth and Shakti Kendra levels to the mandal and district units during his visit to Meerut and Saharanpur.
Invokes Ayodhya, Kashi
Adityanath also said India under Modi was working to shed what he called a “mindset of servitude” and take pride in its cultural heritage. He cited the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the Kashi Vishwanath Dham project in Varanasi, besides development and beautification works in Mathura and Vrindavan.
The Chief Minister said the changes reflected the BJP government’s emphasis on heritage alongside development. His remarks came as the party intensifies its organisational activity in western Uttar Pradesh, with the Meerut meeting focusing on strengthening its grassroots network and preparations for the 2027 Assembly polls.
Nabin’s two-day western Uttar Pradesh programme includes interactions with party workers and organisational meetings in Meerut and Saharanpur, where the BJP leadership is reviewing booth-level preparations and feedback from its local units.