Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has hit back at UP CM Yogi Adityanath over his recent controversial remarks regarding the Tazia procession during Muharram.
Responding to Yogi Adityanath’s comment, Akhilesh posted on his social media handle, “Booth utaarega kuch logo ka bhooth” (next time, some ghosts will answer the government (or Adityanath) by their votes in the polling booth).
CM Yogi made the remark during a public address in Varanasi, where he said, “It’s the month of Sawan. Before this, Muharram was observed. We had set a rule to limit the height of Tazia processions to avoid damage to electric wires and tree branches.”
He further said, “In Jaunpur, an incident occurred where the Tazia was made so tall that it met a high-tension power line, resulting in the death of three people. Following that, a protest broke out, and roads were blocked. When the police asked for instructions, I told them, Use the baton. These are ghosts that only respond to kicks, not words.”
CM Yogi added, “No one opposed my statement on social media, yet some people are feeling uneasy about it now.”
Akhilesh’s sharp retort suggests rising political tensions ahead of upcoming elections, turning the spotlight once again on polarizing rhetoric and public safety regulations during religious events.