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‘For A Yogi, Nation Comes First’: UP CM’s Comeback To Mallikarjun Kharge’s ‘Sadhu’ Jibe
Yogi Adityanath. (PTI File Photo)
In a befitting response to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s Sadhus-‘Gerua’ clothes remark, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said he was a Yogi and the nation was his priority.
“From the past three days, I have been listening to Kharge ji’s comments. I am a yogi and nation comes first for me. For you (Kharge) Congress appeasement politics comes first,” said Adityanath while addressing a rally in poll-bound Maharashtra’s Achalpur.
In a no-holds-barred attack on Adityanath on Monday, Kharge said a “true yogi” would never make remarks like “batenge toh katenge” (if divided, we will be wiped out) and “this language is used by terrorists”.
Kharge’s initial comments during recent political rallies had also sparked a political storm when he, without taking names, tagetted Yogi Adityanath saying, “Many leaders live in the guise of sadhus and have now become politicians. Some have even become chief ministers. They wear ‘gerua’ clothes and have no hair on their heads… I would say to the BJP, either wear white clothes or, if you are a sanyasi, wear ‘gerua’ clothes, but then get out of politics.”
BJP’s Response
Calling the Congress “anti-Hindu” and “anti-Sanatan”, the BJP said the party is the only one to talk about “saffron terrorism” and “Hindu terror”. It said while Kharge is saying how Adityanath’s gerua attire should not be brought into politics, he would not say the same about Muslim religious leaders.
“This is the true philosophy and DNA of the Congress, which is anti-Hindu and anti-Sanatan. Therefore, the Congress is now saying those who wear gerua and saffron, the clothes of a sadhu should not come into politics but will they ever say this about maulana and maulvi?” said BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on the Congress president’s statement.
The elections for the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra will take place in a single phase on November 20, with the vote count scheduled for November 23.
