Samajwadi Party chief and Lok Sabha MP Akhilesh Yadav has drawn the ire of BJP leaders a day after he questioned the Uttar Pradesh government over the expenditure on lighting lamps and candles during Ayodhya’s annual Deepotsav celebration and urged them to learn from cities being lit up during Christmas across the world. The ruling party leaders condemned his remarks and accused him of “anti-Sanatan” mindset.
When asked about the elaborate celebrations by lighting lamps during Diwali celebrations in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav told the media, “…I don’t want to give a suggestion. But I will give one suggestion on the name of Lord Ram. In the entire world, all the cities get illuminated during Christmas. And that goes on for months. We should learn from them. Why do we have to spend money on lamps and candles and put so much thought into it? What can we expect from this government; it should be removed. We will make sure that there are more beautiful lights…”
BJP Rajya Sabha MP and party’s national spokesperson Sudhansu Trivedi accused him of speaking against his own community and becoming blinded by the love of votes of fundamentalists. Trivedi said, “Akhilesh Yadav has become so blinded by the love of votes of fundamentalists that now he has started speaking against his own Yadav community and also wants to snatch away the prosperity of the Prajapati community.” Further, taking a dig at INDIA bloc, Trivedi said, Yadav’s remarks also reflect the alliance’s mindset and “hatred” for Indian culture, Hindu Dharma and the Prajapati community who make diyas.
“His remarks are inspired by ‘INDIA gathbandhan’s (alliance)’ mindset, which calls for eradication of Sanatan Dharma, or Rahul Gandhi, who says he has to fight against Hindu dharma’s shakti (power),” Trivedi said.
Trivedi added, “What kind of influence is this of foreign mentality that they are feeling guilty about it (lighting of diyas during Diwali)? It is sad that such a Kaliyuga is visible today.” He said that in ancient times, slogans like “Gau brahman palak, dharma dwaja sanrakshak” (protector of cows and brahmins, protector of Dharma’s flag) used to be raised on the arrival of kings.
Accusing Yadav of anti-Sanatan mindset, VHP leader Vinod Bansal said, “…The community that makes ‘diyas‘, the Kumhar community, which we are proud of, wants to illuminate the entire world with their diyas… Even when Christianity didn’t exist, Diwali was celebrated. Today, on Diwali, he is lecturing about Christmas… Christmas will come two months later. He doesn’t even know what festival is going to come and what has already come. When will Akhilesh ji get rid of his anti-Sanatana mindset?…”
With inputs from PTI
