Yogi Adityanath defends Mahakumbh, slams opposition political parties in Assembly

Lucknow, Feb 19: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a counterattack against the opposition during the state Assembly Budget session, accusing them of spreading false propaganda against the Mahakumbh. He dismissed allegations of mismanagement and wasteful expenditure, calling the event a symbol of Sanatan culture and Indian heritage.

CM Yogi specifically targeted the Samajwadi Party (SP), criticising its leaders for what he termed as "uncivilized" language against Mahakumbh. He accused opposition parties of attempting to mislead the public and disrupt preparations instead of engaging in constructive debate.

He condemned opposition claims that Mahakumbh funds were being misused, citing their social media posts as evidence of their alleged negativity. "No civilized society can accept such remarks," he said, defending the cultural and religious significance of the centuries-old tradition.

Yogi Adityanath also hit out at top opposition leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, and RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, accusing them of making irresponsible statements about Mahakumbh. He particularly criticised Banerjee for calling it "Mrityukumbh" and slammed Jaya Bachchan for alleging that dead bodies were dumped in the Ganges. These remarks, he claimed, were direct attacks on Sanatan Dharma.

The Chief Minister reiterated his government’s commitment to providing world-class facilities to devotees, stating that more than 56 crore pilgrims had already participated. He took a dig at opposition leaders, alleging that those who once criticised Mahakumbh were now quietly taking a holy dip themselves.