Calling Uttarakhand residents infiltrators narrow mindset Adityanath hits out at Akhilesh

Lucknow, Nov 11 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday hit out at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over his "infiltrator" remark, saying the language reflected a narrow and divisive mindset.

     Addressing the Uttarakhand Mahotsav here after its inauguration, Adityanath, without naming Yadav, alleged that those who embrace Bangladeshi and Pakistani infiltrators spew venom against people from Uttarakhand.

     "Uttar Pradesh's first chief minister was also from Uttarakhand," he said.

     The chief minister named several rivers, the Ganga, Yamuna, Saryu, Ramganga and Rapti, which originate in Uttarakhand, to say that making such remarks against the people of "devbhoomi" indicated a narrow outlook.

     "This is a divisive mindset," he said.

     Yadav had, on October 24, while speaking to reporters on the death anniversary of socialist thinker Ram Manohar Lohia, alleged that the BJP was presenting fabricated figures on infiltrators.

     He claimed that there were infiltrators in Uttar Pradesh too, and that Adityanath, who was born in Pauri Garhwal, and who he called an "ideological infiltrator," should be sent back to Uttarakhand.

     The remarks came days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that some political parties treated infiltrators as a vote bank.

     Defending Uttarakhand, Adityanath referred to the contribution of freedom fighter Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali, who refused to obey British orders to fire on unarmed Indians.

     The chief minister also mentioned India's first Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, and the former CDS General Anil Chauhan, both of whom have roots in Uttarakhand.

     National Security Adviser Ajit Doval was also born in the hill state, he added.

     Adityanath said that almost every family in Uttarakhand has a member serving in the armed forces.

     The priest-politician alleged that such leaders displayed their sympathy not towards folk traditions, culture and faith but by shedding tears over the death of mafia elements.

     The people have repeatedly rejected such politics, he said.

     The chief minister praised the Uttarakhand Mahaparishad for organising the mahotsav for 78 years and praised its role in preserving and promoting Uttarakhand's folk culture, music, and cuisine.

     Adityanath assured the organisers that the state government would extend full cooperation and that Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant Upvan would remain available for hosting the festival.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)