Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has made a strong but
veiled verbal attack on Congress, saying “they are confronting an
existential crisis and in desperation are weakening the nation by
divisive casteist tactics”.
Addressing the Jauhar Smriti Samaroh, held under the aegis of the
Jauhar Smriti Sansthan here on Sunday, Yogi targeted the leadership of
the grand old party without naming them or their party. “Just try to
recall and recognise who are those people, who are dividing the
society (samaj) on the basis of castes and dhama, who are those rumour
mongers creating a crisis of trust and faith among the masses; or
those who are creating situations in which India (Bharat) feared to
lose the glorious image and reputation,” he said.
He then asserted, “You will realise that these are the same people who
had uttered that Lord Ram and Lord Krishna never incarnated; they are
the same who tried their best to stall and delay the court verdict in
favour or the construction of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Such
people were eager to demolish Ram Setu but were opposing construction
of Ram Mandir. They have even attacked our constitutional (statutory)
institutions by creating a crisis of their credibility.
“Those who have been fighting for their existence without bothering
about the nation. In their bid to save their own skin they are raising
such questions that put in peril the image and reputation of the
country. This divisive casteist and religion-based politics (by such
elements) is weakening the country, pushing us back into the dark era
of slavery”.
“So, on this auspicious day of Jauhar Smriti on this sacred soil of
warriors, we should draw inspiration from our Rashtriya Nayaks
(national heroes) like Maharana Pratap, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,
Guru Gobind SinghJi and Maharani Padmini. They did fight valiantly and
laid the supreme sacrifice but not for themselves or their existence,
but for the country safeguarding honour and glory of the country,” he
said.
He fondly remembered the three historic Jauhar Vrat ceremonies
performed by brave Rajput queens along with numerous women of their
clan and local families in years 1303, 1535 and 1568 and paid rich
tributes to the veeranganas. “They performed the collective fire
sacrifice for saving dignity-honour of the motherland and their own
self esteem. That was the best example of safeguarding the “Nari
Gaurav and Garima”, Yogi said, adding in the same breath “that was the
best way in those circumstances of that era”.
That times and circumstances prevailed no more today (neither should
be allowed to prevail), the visiting CM quipped.
For today, the Maharana, ShivaJi Maharaj, Guru Gobind Singh and Rani
Padmavati would have conveyed us the message that no daughter or
sister in the society should face those circumstances (that made the
brave women to perform Jauhar), Yogi added in the same breath.
In my home state of Uttar Pradesh, the improved situation of law and
order has transformed the circumstances to an extent that our
daughters-sisters do fearlessly venture out from homes to attend their
duties or other domestic outdoor obligations, Yogi added.
Union Minister for Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, state Ministers
Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Gautam Dak, Scion of erstwhile
Mewar Royal family Vishwaraj Singh Mewar, MPs Mahima Kumari and CP
Joshi were also present on the occasion.
Earlier, Yogi visited the historic site of the Jauhar in the
Chittorgarh Fort, participated in ceremonial Yagna and also went to
see the Vijay Sthambha, the victory tower in the fort.