Lucknow: Calling for construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya within the realm of the Constitution of India, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said “historic mistakes" must be corrected for lasting peace in India.
During a question and answer session at News18 Network’s gala event UP Rising in Lucknow, Adityanath said, “Indian Muslims’ ancestors were neither Babur nor Aurangzeb… I appeal to all Muslims to welcome good things… Historic wrongs must be corrected for a united and better India."
Yogi said while Uttar Pradesh government was not a party to the Ram temple case in the court, a solution should be arrived at through dialogue.
“If both sides sit together and find a way out to build the Ram temple, my government will support it in every possible manner."
Asked about the crimes happening in the name of cow protection, Yogi said, “No one should take law into his or her hands. If that happens, the law will take its own course."
However, he was quick to add that all Gau Rakshaks should not be seen through the same lens.
“Just like all Muslims should not be looked at through the same prism, all Gau Rakshaks shouldn’t be seen as anti-social elements. A lot of great work in the area of cow protection is being done. We should appreciate that. If people see any incident of cow smuggling, they should inform the police or administration about it."
When asked if he saw his image as an ‘anti-Muslim leader’ a construct of the opponents, Yogi said, “I will do what I have do. People can keep their notions about me. My mission is to provide good governance to 22 crore citizens of Uttar Pradesh without any discrimination."
Quoting a line from Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, Yogi said, “जाकी रही भावना जैसी, प्रभु मूरत देखी तिन तैसी." He said those who saw riots and conflicts during their regime as mute spectators had no right to call him anti-Muslim.
Citing example of the day when last rites of former President APJ Abdul Kalam and 1993 Bombay blast convict Yakub Memon were conducted around the same time, Yogi said, “While one man is respected by the entire country, the other is not. It has nothing to do with religion. We all respect martyr Abdul Hamid and we will continue to do so."
On the question of triple talaq, he said orthodox and outdated practices which were ruining lives of Muslim women must go.
“Women empowerment must be looked at sincerely and this orthodox and outdated practice must be stopped. Every day I meet 25-30 Muslim women who are victims of triple talaq. My government is with Muslim women on this issue."
When asked by a woman activist in the audience what his government was doing about the complaints received from Muslim women, Yogi said, “We are planning to put together all the complaints and approach the Supreme Court."
On the recent Saharanpur riots and massive protest by Dalits in Delhi on Sunday, the UP CM blamed BSP supremo Mayawati.
“She has been a CM thrice. In the past two elections UP has voted her out. Mayawati is desperately using caste politics. My government will not tolerate any violence in the name of caste or religion," he said.
On the recent incidents of crime, Yogi said, “Crimes are being seen because criminals are getting desperate. Criminals are making attempts to ruin my image… but criminals are being nabbed and now we will go after their protectors."
Talking about a case of kidnapping where the accused was caught within three hours, he said, “Crime became a culture in the previous government."
On the challenge of winning UP for the third time in 2019 — after 2014 Lok Sabha polls and 2017 Assembly polls — he said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s achievements are enough to win us polls. We are implementing Centre’s schemes in UP which were stalled by the erstwhile government."
Taking a dig at the opposition, he said, “Samajwadi Party is busy infighting while Bahujan Samaj Party has been reduced to its old stature. There is no opposition. There is no space for caste and family politics. There is not space of appeasement. 2019 will be better for the BJP than 2017 in UP."
Yogi said National Conference chief Omar Abdullah was smart in advising all Opposition leaders to start planning for 2024 as 2019 is a done deal for PM Modi.
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