Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has sparked a fresh controversy with his remarks on Maha Kumbh, asserting that the people of the country need bread more than religion. His statement has drawn sharp reactions, with Bharatiya Janata Party leaders accusing him of undermining the cultural and spiritual significance of the event.
Explaining religious things to the poor would be wrong in today’s time, said the SP chief. He added that Swami Vivekananda first introduced India to the whole world by becoming a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa. At that time, no saint, no guru would have given the introduction of India that Vivekananda gave, he added.
The SP leader said, “Today’s youth need to understand the words of Swami Vivekananda. Knowing about Swami Vivekananda, reading about him and applying what he said in our lives will be a true tribute to him.”
“On the question of going to Maha Kumbh, Yadav said, “I have always gone and if you say, I can also share the picture when I have bathed in the Ganga from time to time. The one who is telling others to bathe in the Ganga should also share at least.”
Yadav said sarcastically, “Some people go to bathe in the Ganga to do virtue, some people go to donate and some people go to wash away their sins. We will go for virtue and donation.”
However, in a post on X on Monday Akhilesh Yadav welcomed the pilgrims arriving for Maha Kumbh and extended good wishes for the grand religious event.
“Hearty welcome and greetings to all the pilgrims who have come to Maha Kumbha and infinite best wishes for the successful completion of everyone’s pilgrimage,” the SP president said.
Yadav said that the BJP would lose the Milkipur assembly by-election. Many newspapers, channels and the media are saying that the equation is in favour of the SP, he added.
He accused the ruling party of dishonesty in the recent by-election and claimed “the public is going to make the Samajwadi Party win the Milkipur by-election”.
The by-election for the Milkipur assembly constituency will be held on February 5, while the counting of votes will be taken up on February 10. Earlier, by-elections were held in November 2024 for nine assembly seats of the state in which the BJP and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal won seven seats, while the SP won only two seats.
