Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in the UP assembly on Monday that India will be run by the ancient traditions and legacy of Ram, Krishna, and Buddha, not the colonial legacy of Mughal rulers like Babur and Aurangzeb.
He said, “If a Muslim procession can pass through a Hindu locality, why not a Hindu procession through a Muslim locality? If Muslims object to the slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’, Hindus can also object to 'Allahu Akbar.’”
Replying to the adjournment notice given by the opposition Samajwadi Party over the violent incidents in Sambhal on November 24 and the communal incident in Bahraich, CM Yogi said, “I can live my life with ‘Jai Shri Ram’, ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Radhe Radhe’—no need for any other slogan. Baburnama also says that a structure was built by demolishing the Harihar temple in Sambhal.”
He added, “The victory of the BJP candidate in the Muslim-dominated Kundarki assembly seat is the victory of the Constitution and Sanatan, and the people are recognising their ancient Hindu roots.”
CM Yogi pointed out a historical divide between Turks and Pathans in Sambhal and Kundarki. He recalled that Shafiqur Rahman Barq, the late SP MP, used to proclaim that he was not an Indian citizen, but a descendant of Mughal ruler Babur.
“Will you uphold the legacy of invaders, or the traditions of Ram, Krishna, and Buddha?” He reiterated, “Only the tradition of Ram, Krishna, and Buddha will endure in India, not that of Babur and Aurangzeb.”
“Why is there no issue when a Muharram or any Muslim procession passes peacefully through a Hindu locality or in front of a temple, but problems arise when a Hindu procession passes through a mosque or a Muslim-majority area? Can’t the saffron flag be raised on Indian soil?” he asked.
“‘Jai Shri Ram’ is not provocative; it is a reflection of our cultural consciousness and faith. If I tell you tomorrow that we don't like the slogan ‘Allahu Akbar’, will you be okay with that?” Yogi asked.
Asking the Samajwadi Party MLA Mahmood, who tabled the adjournment notice, the CM said, “If you had read Baburnama, you would not be engaging in this debate. Your politics has been about ‘Baatne and Kaatne’, but we have made it clear— ‘Na Batenge, Na Katenge.’”
Recalling the long history of communal riots in Sambhal since 1947, CM said, “There were deaths and riots in 1947, and 1948, and continued unrest through the decades, with significant violence in 1978, where 184 Hindus were burned alive. In 1980-1982, there were more riots, and in 1990-1992, five people were killed. A total of 209 Hindus have lost their lives in Sambhal since 1947.”
He also referred to the brutal murder of a businessman in the 1978 riots, whose limbs were cut and then his throat was slit. CM Yogi assured the House that anyone involved in stone-pelting or attempting to disrupt peace will be strictly dealt with and will not be spared.
Yogi urged the opposition to read the preamble of Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar’s original Constitution and review the fundamental rights it guarantees.
“If you examine its pages, you will find references to Ram, Krishna, Bajrang Bali, and Buddha. The philosophy of India’s rich tradition is embedded within this Constitution, yet the words ‘secular’, ‘sectarian’, or ‘socialism’ do not appear anywhere in the original document,” the CM remarked.
Taking a dig at the Samajwadi Party, he added, “As soon as the truth about your actions in Sambhal came to light, the public declared ‘Safachat’.”
Referring to NCRB data, CM Yogi highlighted that communal riots in Uttar Pradesh have dropped since 2017.
“Since 2017, there have been no riots in UP. But between 2012 and 2017, during the Samajwadi Party’s tenure, there were 815 communal riots, and 192 people lost their lives. From 2007 to 2011, there were 616 incidents, with 121 deaths,” he pointed out.
He also noted that in the recent by-election, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the NDA alliance secured 7 out of 9 seats.
“Chachhu, (Shivpal Yadav) was a little kinder, or else Karhal and Sisamau would also have been swept clean,” the CM said, adding: “The victories in Kundarki, Katehari, Khair, Majhwa, Ghaziabad, Mirapur, and Phulpur are victories for the Constitution of India.”
CM Yogi emphasised that India is the only country where the majority community is not asking for special rights, but instead is advocating for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). He supported the statement made by a judge of the Allahabad High Court on the UCC and criticised the SP and Congress for their motion of no-confidence against the chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
“These parties are trying to pressure constitutional institutions to align with their views by force,” he said.
CM Yogi also targeted the opposition over electricity theft in Sambhal, revealing that mini power stations are being run from religious places in the region.
“Many mosques were found with illegal sub-stations where free connections were distributed,” he said.
“While the state’s power corporation reports a line loss of less than 30%, in Deepasrai and Mirasrai localities of Sambhal, the losses are 78% and 82%, respectively. This is nothing but the looting of the country’s resources," the chief minister added.
The CM stated that the administration is handling the Bahraich and Sambhal incidents with fairness and transparency. He said, “A judicial commission has been set up to investigate the Sambhal incident, with its members tasked to record statements, hear all parties, and uncover the truth.”
He highlighted the importance of maintaining peace ahead of the Maha Kumbh 2025.
Addressing the opposition, he urged them not to disrupt the state’s harmony with irresponsible statements or actions.
The CM reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Uttar Pradesh's 25 crore residents. “Any attempts at anarchy or stone-pelting will be dealt with firmly. Those who defy the law or disregard court orders will face strict action,” he warned.
