Maha Kumbh 2025: Akhilesh Yadav takes holy dip at Sangam, says there is no difference between Yamuna in Delhi and UP, both are in bad condition

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. (File photo/PTI)

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav participated in the ongoing Maha Kumbh 2025 at Prayagraj, taking 11 holy dips in the sacred waters with his son Arjun.

Akhilesh Yadav arrived at the Maha Kumbh fair area directly from Prayagraj Airport and took a holy bath at the Sangam. Following the ritual bath, he visited the Samajwadi Party's camp at the fair. There, he toured several pandals, seeking the blessings of various saints and spiritual leaders. The SP chief had originally planned to attend the Maha Kumbh on January 23, but the visit was postponed.

Addressing the media, Yadav emphasized the spiritual significance of the Kumbh and urged the government to avoid turning the event into a spectacle. "People come here driven by their faith and devotion," Yadav said. "The day I took a dip at Haridwar felt like a festival, and today, I am blessed to have the opportunity to take a holy dip here in Prayagraj."

#WATCH | #MahaKumbh2025 | Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav takes a dip at Triveni Sangam during the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj.Source: Samajwadi Party pic.twitter.com/W8FvosRxzg
ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2025

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister voiced concerns over the management of the event, particularly for elderly pilgrims travelling from various parts of the country. "Older people who have journeyed from far-off places are facing difficulties due to inadequate arrangements. There should have been better planning to ensure that no one experiences discomfort," he remarked.

Yadav also criticized the ruling government, urging it to focus on the Maha Kumbh's spiritual essence rather than treat it as a public relations or sports event. "There is no place for divisive and negative politics in such a pious gathering," he added.

On Friday, Akhilesh Yadav indirectly targeted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who had criticized Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for the polluted state of the Yamuna. Yadav challenged Adityanath, asking if he would dare to drink water from the Yamuna in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, before criticizing others. This came after Adityanath, while campaigning for the Delhi assembly elections, accused Kejriwal of turning the river into a "dirty drain."

"Before challenging others, people should dare to sip water from the Yamuna which flows through Mathura in their state," the SP chief said in a Hindi post, he said in a post on X. He further said there is no difference between the Yamuna of Delhi and UP, the condition of both is bad.

The Maha Kumbh 2025, one of the largest religious congregations in the world, has drawn millions of devotees to Prayagraj to take part in the ritualistic bathing in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers.

With massive crowds pouring in daily, ensuring seamless logistics and facilities remains a challenge for authorities. Yadav's remarks underline the need for efficient management to cater to the diverse age groups and backgrounds of pilgrims attending the event. So far 11.84 crore devotees have taken a bath in Sangam in Maha Kumbh.

Akhilesh Yadav has consistently expressed concerns about divisive politics in Uttar Pradesh. Recently, he criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for promoting division through their slogan 'batenge toh katenge' (if we divide, we will be devoured), labeling it as negative and divisive, and saying the BJP engages in politics of dividing society. Akhilesh Yadav has said that UP should not be divided.

In 2019, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav addressed the multiple allegedly bogus FIRs filed against senior party leader Azam Khan, which included allegations of goat and buffalo theft. Yadav criticized these actions, suggesting they were politically motivated and intended to deceive the public. Now, recently the Samajwadi Party (SP) MP, Ziaur Rahman Barq, has been fined Rs 1.91 crore by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) on the grounds of alleged electricity theft.

Additionally, a case has been filed against his father, who is accused of threatening UPPCL employees when they went to check electricity metre and electric equipment loads at his Sambhal residence. To this Akhilesh Yadav has said," The public has seen everything, how they (the ruling government) is deceiving the public."