'SP govt put non-sanatani in charge of Kumbh Mela': UP CM Yogi slams Akhilesh over Maha Kumbh remark

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath slammed Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for his remarks over the Maha Kumbh and questioned the party on "non-Sanatani" Azam Khan's appointment as management incharge in 2013.
While addressing the state assembly, Adityanath said that during SP's regime, the CM did not have the time to monitor Kumbh and see its arrangements.
"What you (opposition) said regarding Maha Kumbh, a person from a particular caste was stopped from entering Maha Kumbh, we had told that those who go with goodwill, they can go but if somebody goes with malicious intent, they would be in trouble...We did not play with the religious sentiments of people, unlike Samajwadi party, their CM did not have the time to monitor Kumbh and see its arrangements and therefore, he made, a non-sanatani, in charge of Kumbh," he said.

This remarks come after Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday slammed the BJP over the handling of the economy and the ongoing Mahakumbh event in Prayagraj.
He alleged that the government has failed to deliver on its promises, including doubling incomes and creating new jobs. He also expressed concern over the arrangements made for the Kumbh, citing issues with food, stampedes, and accidents.
Yogi also recalled 2013 Kumbh incident and said that whoever went there saw corruption, pollution, and the waters of the Triveni (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati) were not fit for bathing. He also said that this is the reason why the Prime Minister of Mauritius refused to bathe there.
While this year, "They are continuously coming—President Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Dhankhar, the King of Bhutan, and the Heads of Missions from 74 countries have also came to take bath at Kumbh Mela. All of them participated in this event, making it successful. For the first time, people from the North, South, East, and West have become part of this event. People from 74 countries are participating in this event, and ministers from many countries are also taking part. Isn't this a global event? What does a global event mean? Look at the world and what has happened," the UP CM said.
"On the day of the Amrit Snan, media channels were broadcasting live, and we could hear from foreign tourists who had come and experienced the Kumbh Mela. They were amazed by the event and the Sanatan Dharma followers were happy. It was the first time such an event happened, and there is no event anywhere in the world where such a large number of devotees gathered at one place, on one stage, contributing to the advancement of all the rituals in their own way," he added.