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Those who opposed Ram Temple now preach faith: Yogi Adityanath jabs Opposition

UP CM Yogi Adityanath used a Gorakhpur event to attack Opposition leaders who opposed the construction of Ram Temple in court. He framed the remarks as part of a wider political pitch on faith, governance and development.

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 CM Yogi Adityanath
UP CM Yogi Adityanath said that a decade ago, before he came to power in the state, people were afraid to come to Gorakhpur because of "mafia and mosquitoes".

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said it was laughable that those who had gone to court against the construction of the Ram Temple were now delivering sermons on faith, in remarks seen as aimed at the Samajwadi Party.

He made the comments after inaugurating or laying the foundation stone for 14 development projects worth more than Rs 995 crore in his constituency, Gorakhpur Urban. Adityanath also spoke about law and order, jobs, investment and the closure of sugar mills under previous governments.

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Referring to the period before 2017, Adityanath said, "Before 2017, riots were normal, anarchy was at its peak. Just recall how riots would break out during Holi, Vijayadashami, Durga Puja, and Ram Navami. They would not allow Janmashtami celebrations or the Kanwar Yatra to take place."

He added, "In short, those who used to attack matters of faith back then have now taken it upon themselves to pose as the greatest champions of that very faith."

The BJP leader said, "Those who created obstacles in the path of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple's construction, who fired upon devotees of Lord Ram during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, who deployed their lawyers in the Supreme Court to oppose the temple, those very people are speaking about faith today."

He added that the same people who used to "play with faith and the future of the youth" were now giving grand speeches, and said, "Their sermons seem laughable."

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Adityanath also said that a decade ago, before he came to power in the state, people were afraid to come to Gorakhpur because of "mafia and mosquitoes". "Where there are mosquitoes, there is malaria, dengue, encephalitis; and because of the mafia, no one would even buy property here. Today, however, buying land and building a house in Gorakhpur is everyone's top choice," he said.

He claimed that no one was willing to invest in the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority till he took over the reins of the state and the constituency.

He blamed the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress governments for the closure of 29 sugar mills in the state. "They also sold off 21 of them at throwaway prices. The Padrauna sugar mill, for instance, was sold for a mere Rs 2 crore, a fraction of its true value. The land alone was worth around Rs 200 crore," he said.

Adityanath also alleged that under the previous government there was a "constable syndicate" in the state that controlled all recruitment.

"Today, I can say that jobs are available and selections are made without undue influence; whether it is recruitment for the UP Police, the teaching profession, or positions like sub-divisional magistrate or deputy SP," he said.

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The Chief Minister used the event in Gorakhpur to combine the launch of development projects with a sharp attack on previous governments over faith, law and order, investment and recruitment.

- Ends
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Jul 23, 2026 17:43 IST

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said it was laughable that those who had gone to court against the construction of the Ram Temple were now delivering sermons on faith, in remarks seen as aimed at the Samajwadi Party.

He made the comments after inaugurating or laying the foundation stone for 14 development projects worth more than Rs 995 crore in his constituency, Gorakhpur Urban. Adityanath also spoke about law and order, jobs, investment and the closure of sugar mills under previous governments.

Referring to the period before 2017, Adityanath said, "Before 2017, riots were normal, anarchy was at its peak. Just recall how riots would break out during Holi, Vijayadashami, Durga Puja, and Ram Navami. They would not allow Janmashtami celebrations or the Kanwar Yatra to take place."

He added, "In short, those who used to attack matters of faith back then have now taken it upon themselves to pose as the greatest champions of that very faith."

The BJP leader said, "Those who created obstacles in the path of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple's construction, who fired upon devotees of Lord Ram during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, who deployed their lawyers in the Supreme Court to oppose the temple, those very people are speaking about faith today."

He added that the same people who used to "play with faith and the future of the youth" were now giving grand speeches, and said, "Their sermons seem laughable."

Adityanath also said that a decade ago, before he came to power in the state, people were afraid to come to Gorakhpur because of "mafia and mosquitoes". "Where there are mosquitoes, there is malaria, dengue, encephalitis; and because of the mafia, no one would even buy property here. Today, however, buying land and building a house in Gorakhpur is everyone's top choice," he said.

He claimed that no one was willing to invest in the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority till he took over the reins of the state and the constituency.

He blamed the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress governments for the closure of 29 sugar mills in the state. "They also sold off 21 of them at throwaway prices. The Padrauna sugar mill, for instance, was sold for a mere Rs 2 crore, a fraction of its true value. The land alone was worth around Rs 200 crore," he said.

Adityanath also alleged that under the previous government there was a "constable syndicate" in the state that controlled all recruitment.

"Today, I can say that jobs are available and selections are made without undue influence; whether it is recruitment for the UP Police, the teaching profession, or positions like sub-divisional magistrate or deputy SP," he said.

The Chief Minister used the event in Gorakhpur to combine the launch of development projects with a sharp attack on previous governments over faith, law and order, investment and recruitment.

- Ends
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Jul 23, 2026 17:43 IST

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said it was laughable that those who had gone to court against the construction of the Ram Temple were now delivering sermons on faith, in remarks seen as aimed at the Samajwadi Party.

He made the comments after inaugurating or laying the foundation stone for 14 development projects worth more than Rs 995 crore in his constituency, Gorakhpur Urban. Adityanath also spoke about law and order, jobs, investment and the closure of sugar mills under previous governments.

Referring to the period before 2017, Adityanath said, "Before 2017, riots were normal, anarchy was at its peak. Just recall how riots would break out during Holi, Vijayadashami, Durga Puja, and Ram Navami. They would not allow Janmashtami celebrations or the Kanwar Yatra to take place."

He added, "In short, those who used to attack matters of faith back then have now taken it upon themselves to pose as the greatest champions of that very faith."

The BJP leader said, "Those who created obstacles in the path of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple's construction, who fired upon devotees of Lord Ram during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, who deployed their lawyers in the Supreme Court to oppose the temple, those very people are speaking about faith today."

He added that the same people who used to "play with faith and the future of the youth" were now giving grand speeches, and said, "Their sermons seem laughable."

Adityanath also said that a decade ago, before he came to power in the state, people were afraid to come to Gorakhpur because of "mafia and mosquitoes". "Where there are mosquitoes, there is malaria, dengue, encephalitis; and because of the mafia, no one would even buy property here. Today, however, buying land and building a house in Gorakhpur is everyone's top choice," he said.

He claimed that no one was willing to invest in the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority till he took over the reins of the state and the constituency.

He blamed the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress governments for the closure of 29 sugar mills in the state. "They also sold off 21 of them at throwaway prices. The Padrauna sugar mill, for instance, was sold for a mere Rs 2 crore, a fraction of its true value. The land alone was worth around Rs 200 crore," he said.

Adityanath also alleged that under the previous government there was a "constable syndicate" in the state that controlled all recruitment.

"Today, I can say that jobs are available and selections are made without undue influence; whether it is recruitment for the UP Police, the teaching profession, or positions like sub-divisional magistrate or deputy SP," he said.

The Chief Minister used the event in Gorakhpur to combine the launch of development projects with a sharp attack on previous governments over faith, law and order, investment and recruitment.

- Ends
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Jul 23, 2026 17:43 IST

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