Prayagraj: The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Aditiyanath on Tuesday in a scatching attack on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused them of “taking payoffs” to speak against Sanatan Dharm as the opposition disputed the number of casualties in the Mahakumbh stampede.
The congress president earlier on Monday raised the issue of the Mahakumbh stampede in Rajya Sabha, where he claimed that 1000 people died in the stampede, heavily disputing the original figure given by the UP government of 30 deaths. Similarly, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also questioned the government on the numbers, demanding that the UP government release the total count of deaths.
The UP CM reacting on the comments said, “On one hand, the people are witnessing such a big event and taking part in it with pride, and on the other hand, Sanatan Dharm ke khilaf supari lekarke shadyantra (taking a payoff to be against Sanatan Dharm), repeatedly there are malicious acts being plotted too.”
Saying that the opposition has been speaking against Mahakumbh mela “since day 1,” he added, “Everyone has been paying attention to how Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Samajwadi party chief Akhilesh Yadav both of them are not just against sanatan dharm but speaking against Mahakumbh since day 1. This statement of theirs not just intense, but also condemnable, and shameful. I am saddened by the Congress president saying that thousands of people died in Mahakumbh on Mouni Amavasya.”
He added further, “That too such a misleading statement, lies and lies. Similarly, the statement of SP chief, there is a contest between the two, who will insult Sanatan more.”
CM Adityanath further praised the efforts of the security forces to ensure every injured reaches the hospital for treatment, calling it an example upholding their duty.