Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath strongly criticised the opposition for allegedly spreading misinformation about the ongoing Mahakumbh, stating that such actions insult the faith of millions.
Addressing a brief discussion in the state assembly, he revealed that over 56 crore devotees have already participated in the holy event.
"The Mahakumbh is not organised by any government; it is an event of Sanatan culture. Those spreading baseless allegations are insulting Sanatan beliefs. Politics should not be played over such a sacred event," he remarked.
The CM also accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) of opposing the Mahakumbh from the beginning. He referenced statements by opposition leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who allegedly referred to the event as Mrityu Kumbh (death fair), RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, who dismissed it as meaningless, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who claimed that stampedes during the festival had resulted in thousands of deaths.
"If following Sanatan traditions is a crime, then I will commit this crime a thousand times," Yogi asserted. Taking a dig at SP, he said, "A sick person can be treated, but not a sick mentality."
He further mocked SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, claiming that despite his party's criticism, he secretly took a dip in the holy waters.
Opposition demands halt to power privatisation, Government stresses reforms
The opposition also raised concerns over privatisation of electricity, warning that it would increase tariffs and adversely impact consumers. They argued that the state electricity board has more experience than private firms, and called for an immediate rollback of privatization plans.
Energy Minister A.K. Sharma defended the move, stating that privatisation is necessary for improving the power sector. "When BJP came to power in 2017, UP's electricity board was running a deficit of `1.42 Lakh Crore.
Despite reforms, issues persist, and further improvements are needed," he explained. He assured that employees' interests would be protected and power rates would not be hiked.
UP Budget to prioritise poor and middle class: Finance Minister
Finance Minister Suresh Khanna assured that the UP Budget would be pro-people, addressing the concerns of the poor and middle class while focusing on infrastructure development.
He also dismissed Mamata Banerjee's remarks about Maha Kumbh, stating, "People who lack knowledge make such statements."
Speaker urges Opposition to fulfill responsibilities
Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana urged opposition leaders to ensure smooth proceedings in the house, allowing constructive debates. "The opposition has every right to criticise the government where necessary, but they must also act responsibly. Every member will be given the opportunity to raise their concerns," he assured.
With discussions heating up in the assembly, political tensions remain high as the Maha Kumbh and other pressing governance issues continue to dominate the agenda.
Urdu in Assembly Proceedings Sparks Heated Debate
Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey opposed the inclusion of English in assembly proceedings while advocating for Urdu alongside regional languages like Awadhi, Braj, Bundeli, and Bhojpuri. He accused CM Yogi of branding SP leaders as kathmulla (a term often used derogatorily for conservative Muslims) and questioned whether celebrated Urdu writers like Premchand, Raghupati Sahai Firaq Gorakhpuri, and other scholars should also be labeled as such.
CM Yogi retorted, accusing SP leaders of hypocrisy:
"They want their children to study in elite English-medium schools while pushing others towards Urdu. SP is leading the country towards fundamentalism."
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna clarified the government's stance, asserting that Hindi remains the language of assembly proceedings but members are free to speak in regional languages. "We are not imposing English, nor are we weakening Hindi," he added.
