Yogi Adityanath invokes Sambhal in Assembly speech: 'We should get what is ours'

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also slammed the Opposition for spreading negativity around the Maha Kumbh. (File/PTI)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday invoked the issue of reclaiming religious places and said that Hindus should get back the spiritual and cultural heritage that rightfully belongs to them.

Addressing the UP Assembly during a discussion of the state Budget presented last week, CM Adityanath brought up the issue of reclaiming places of religious significance, claiming that his government has identified and restored 54 shrines or other pilgrimage sites which were lying closed after being destroyed in Sambhal district alone.

Rejecting allegations of the BJP harbouring a "communal mindset", Adityanath said that his government and party has never deviated from what it has said.

"Humne to wahi kiya hai, wahi kaha hai.. jo hamara hai, woh hamein milna chahiye (We have always done, and said... that we should get what is ours). We have not deviated from it. The truth is bitter but one should have the strength to accept it," he said.

Accusing the Samajwadi Party of deviating from the principles of socialism espoused by socialist icon Ram Manohar Lohia, who the CM said talked about how Bharat was safe till it followed the principles of Ram, Krishna and Shankar.

He also cited the example of Maha Kumbh and said while the world recognised the state's capability to organise an event of this magnitude while the Opposition spread negativity around it. "Neither people of the state nor of the country listened to you (Opposition). For you, this is the start of a countdown," Adityanath said.

"You claimed that our mindset is communal.. You tell us how our thoughts are communal. We are talking about taking everyone along and the development of all. The best example of this is Maha Kumbh, where no bias based on caste, creed or religion was shown towards anyone," he added.

Speaking of Sambhal, where five people were killed and several others injured in clashes that followed protests over a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Chandausi, Adityanath said that an event of jalabhishek was performed after 56 years at a Shiv temple in Sambhal on February 26.

"In Sambhal alone, there were at least 87 places of worship (68 teerths and 19 wells) which were closed due to some mischief in a certain period of time. Of these, 54 were identified and restored," he added.