Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday asserted that glorifying invaders who attacked India’s heritage and dishonoured its people amounted to treason-something that the “new India” would never tolerate.

Speaking at a public gathering in Bahraich, Adityanath cautioned against celebrating historical figures who sought to destroy Sanatan culture.

His remarks come amid ongoing demands to remove Mughal ruler Aurangzeb’s tomb in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

“Glorifying invaders strengthens the very roots of treason. The new India will never accept those who insult our great ancestors and praise those who attacked our civilisation, violated our women, and struck at our faith,” he declared.

At a time when the world is recognising India’s rich cultural heritage, Adityanath emphasised that it was every citizen’s duty to honour the nation’s great leaders rather than eulogising those who attempted to erase its identity.

“Today, as the world praises India’s Sanatan culture and traditions, it becomes the duty of every citizen to show respect and reverence for the great men of India. In such times, no invader should be glorified. To do so is to lay the foundation of treason, which independent India cannot tolerate,” Yogi said.

He emphasised that New India will not accept those who insult India’s great men, glorify invaders who trampled Sanatan culture, dishonoured daughters, and attacked faith.

Highlighting Bahraich’s deep-rooted connection to India’s Rishi tradition, Yogi Adityanath remarked, “It is believed that Maharishi Balark’s world-famous ashram was located in Bahraich, and the district derives its name from Balark Rishi. This is the same historic land where Maharaja Suheldev hoisted India’s victory flag by defeating a foreign invader.”

He added, “The courage and valour displayed by Maharaja Suheldev ensured that for 150 years, no foreign invader dared to attack India. However, there were attempts to strip this sacred land of Bahraich of its identity.”

His speech also touched upon the recently concluded Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, which he described as “the largest human congregation ever witnessed.”

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent address in Parliament, Adityanath noted that Modi had praised Uttar Pradesh for successfully hosting the event, which saw a record gathering of over 66 Crore devotees at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mystical Saraswati rivers.

“No other country in the world has organised an event of such an enormous scale. The Maha Kumbh was a testament to India’s eternal Sanatan culture, which will continue to inspire future generations,” Adityanath said.

Criticising past governments, the CM remarked that while announcements were made, real work remained undone. The Chief Minister stated that when the Bharatiya Janata Party’s double-engine government took power in 2017, over 33 Lakh revenue cases were pending. He explained that such delays often led to fighting, riots, and the forceful grabbing of poor people’s land by powerful individuals.