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Yogi Adityanath took on the Opposition leaders for their criticism of the Maha Kumbh and said that people got what they sought at the Kumbh.
Yogi Adityanath slams Opposition over Maha Kumbh criticism (PTI Image)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday ripped into the Opposition ahead of the conclusion of Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and said that people got what they wished for in the religious congregation.
He said “vultures” got “corpses”, “pigs” got “filth” while devotees got God, in a sharp apparent criticism of the Opposition.
“Someone has truly said that in the Maha Kumbh, whatever one sought, they found. Vultures found only corpses, pigs found filth, sensitive souls found the beautiful essence of relationships, the faithful found virtue, the noble found nobility, traders got business, devotees got clean arrangements, and devotees found God,” Yogi said while addressing the Assembly.
किसी ने सच कहा है कि महाकुम्भ में जिसने जो तलाशा, उसको वह मिला-गिद्धों को केवल लाश मिलीसूअरों को गंदगी मिलीसंवेदनशील लोगों को रिश्तों की खूबसूरत तस्वीर मिलीआस्थावान को पुण्य मिलासज्जनों को सज्जनता मिलीभक्तों को भगवान मिले… pic.twitter.com/Z4sXsQCJav
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) February 24, 2025
The Chief Minister’s remarks made a veiled reference to the Opposition leaders who have time and again splashed names for Maha Kumbh during the course of the largest religious congregation in the world, including remarks over the stampede deaths and cleanliness issues.
“You said that a particular caste was stopped from visiting there, no caste was prevented. Anyone having good intentions should visit Kumbh with respect, but if somebody goes there with ill intentions, will definitely suffer if he tries to create chaos in Kumbh,” he said.
“Unlike you, we have not tampered with faith. During your tenure, the chief minister neither had the time to oversee nor review the event, which is why a non-Sanatani was appointed as the in-charge of Kumbh,” Yogi added.
He said that he regularly took stock of the preparations and reviewed Kumbh.
“But here, I personally reviewed the Kumbh and continue to do so. This is why, unlike in 2013, when visitors witnessed chaos, corruption, and pollution, the situation is now much better. Back then, the Triveni Sangam of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati had no clean water fit for bathing. A clear example of this was the Prime Minister of Mauritius, who refused to take a dip,” he said.
Akhilesh Yadav Hits Back At Yogi
Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav slammed Yogi for the use of “inappropriate” words in the Assembly while talking about spiritual event like Maha Kumbh.
“The use of inappropriate statements reflects that when negativity reaches its peak, it manifests in words without regard for the dignity of time, place, or occasion. While speaking about a sacred and spiritual event like Mahakumbh, the choice of words should align with the prestige and significance of the occasion. Those who have visited Mahakumbh multiple times yet have not experienced any intellectual or spiritual upliftment—who can possibly measure the depths of their sins and moral downfall?” Akhilesh said.
“To those who have been hurt by such statements, I urge you to feel sympathy rather than anger towards such individuals,” he added.
… लेकिन महाकुंभ में जिन्होंने अपनों को तलाशा उन्हें न तो अपने उन परिवारवालों का नाम मृतकों की सूची में मिला, जो हमेशा के लिए खो गये और न ही खोया-पाया के रजिस्टर में।कुछ लोगों ने महाकुंभ में राजनीतिक अवसरवाद को तलाशा और उनको आत्मप्रचार का माध्यम मिला लेकिन उन्होंने अपनी… pic.twitter.com/PJi28TRqo4
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) February 24, 2025
Opposition’s Criticism Of Maha Kumbh
At least 30 people died at the Kumbh stampede in the early hours of January 29, while several others were injured. On February 15, around 18 people died after a stampede broke out at the New Delhi Railway Station. Over a dozen people sustained injuries in the incident.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had labelled the Maha Kumbh as “Mrityu Kumbh” while reacting to the stampede deaths at the event.
Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan had claimed that the water at Maha Kumbh is the “most polluted” as those who died in the stampede were dumped in the river.
“Where is the water most contaminated right now? It’s in Kumbh. Bodies (of those who died in the stampede) have been thrown in the river because of which the water has been contaminated,” she had said.
Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had claimed that the Uttar Pradesh government had coined the term “Maha” Kumbh to “waste money” and there was “no such thing as Maha Kumbh”.
RJD chief Lalu Yadav had also weighed in on the Maha Kumbh and described the congregation, which has so far garnered over 60 crore devotees from across the globe, as “meaningless”.
“The Kumbh has no meaning… It is just meaningless,” Lalu had said, drawing criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said that the RJD hated the Hindu faith and heritage.
