NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday stepped up his attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the Manusmriti, while also targeting the party’s state leadership over its alleged conduct in Ayodhya.Speaking in Raebareli, CM Yogi said Rahul Gandhi, as leader of opposition, had a responsibility to uphold the Constitution and respect India’s traditions and heritage.“Recently, I was reading a statement made by the Member of Parliament from Raebareli, Rahul Gandhi. He made a statement in Maharashtra urging women to break free from the shackles of the Manusmriti. Rahul ji, the country does not have high expectations of you merely as Rahul Gandhi; in fact, it has no expectations at all. However, your role as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament entails accountability towards the country’s democracy. You took an oath to uphold the Constitution of India, yet you seem to consider it your birthright to disparage India’s traditions and heritage.”CM Yogi accused Gandhi of insulting Uttar Pradesh and India during visits outside the state and abroad. He also alleged that the Congress had questioned the existence of Lord Ram in Ayodhya and referred to the Emergency imposed in 1975.The UP chief minister said Rahul Gandhi should study ancient Indian texts to understand Manu and India’s heritage.“You make comments regarding Manu, Ram, or India’s heritage. If you wish to understand Manu, read the Atharvaveda, the Shatapatha Brahmana and the Matsya Purana; you will find all the information there.”Yogi also criticised remarks directed at the Prime Minister, saying such statements amounted to an attack on an institution rather than an individual.“When you insult India’s institutions, when you make derogatory remarks about the Prime Minister of India, you are not merely insulting an individual; you are insulting an institution of India. The Prime Minister is not just an individual; the Prime Minister is an institution of India.”He added that such criticism could undermine public confidence in constitutional institutions and urged Gandhi to refrain from what he called irresponsible behaviour.
CM Yogi targets Congress state
CM Yogi also attacked the Congress state president over an alleged incident involving a visit to Hanumangarhi in Ayodhya, accusing him of displaying duplicity.“You saw the behaviour of the Congress state president: he goes to offer prayers at Hanumangarhi, but later outside he enjoys a feast of fish. He could have eaten whatever he wanted outside—anywhere other than Ayodhya. Yet, this is the duplicity they display. Even a chameleon would be put to shame by these people; it would wonder what kind of human species this is—chanting ‘Ram-Ram’ inside the temple and feasting on fish the moment they step out. This is their history—the history of this Congress state president.”
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CM Yogi further alleged that the Congress leader had bowed before a mafia figure who had allegedly killed his brother, claiming the situation changed only after the government acted against the accused.“When a mafia don murdered his brother, this man did not testify against the criminal; instead, he knelt and bowed in submission before him. He knelt before the very man who had brutally killed his brother. It was only when the government stepped in and crushed that mafia element that the situation changed; otherwise, these people had turned the state into a mafia-dominated territory, creating an identity crisis.”CM Yogi also said society could have no future if it forgot its ancestors and accused unnamed groups of attempting to weaken India’s traditions, values and ideals.