Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has once again changed the center of political discussion with his speeches. In the ‘Deepotsav to Rashtrotsav’ program organized in Gorakhpur, he said that “British and French colonialism is discussed, but ‘Political Islam’ which is the biggest attack on Sanatan Dharma is not talked about.” Yogi described warriors like Chhatrapati Shivaji, Guru Gobind Singh and Maharana Pratap as symbols of the struggle against ‘political Islam’. From the same platform, he praised the Sangh’s 100-year journey and said that the Sangh made the construction of Ram Temple possible by remaining firm on its resolve despite restrictions, lathi charge and firing.
He also launched a scathing attack on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, saying, “Akhilesh is not only a traitor to Ram but also a traitor to Krishna.” Let us tell you that Akhilesh had raised questions on government expenditure on Deepotsav celebrations. Yogi retorted and said that those who hate Diwali are also alienated from Sanatan culture. He sneered, “You may get the throne, but not the intelligence.”
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If seen, this statement of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is not only an expression of religious faith, but also a political statement of India’s current ideological struggle. The context in which he has used the term ‘Political Islam’ brings the religious-cultural conflicts of history back into the politics of the present. Yogi’s statement that “Political Islam dealt the biggest blow to Sanatan Dharma” actually draws an ideological line, in which ‘political Islam’ is described as a bigger threat than foreign colonialism.
Yogi’s statement that “sale of Halal products helps conversion and terrorism” is also a serious claim. Also, the accusation on Akhilesh Yadav of being ‘Ram traitor’ and ‘Krishna traitor’ is not just a sword of words, but a political strategy. Yogi knows that politics of religion, faith and symbols is the most effective weapon in Uttar Pradesh. Yogi has once again put the opposition on the defensive around cultural points like Diwali, Ram Mandir and Krishna Janmabhoomi. Akhilesh had raised the issue of administrative accountability by questioning the government’s Deepotsav expenditure, but Yogi has converted it into an emotional discussion by placing it in the frame of “Sanatan protest”.
In his address, Yogi Adityanath made it clear that the path of 2027 assembly elections will not be only of development or administration, but of ideological conflict. Words like ‘Political Islam’ and ‘Ram Drohi’ are deciding the future political language of Uttar Pradesh. The language is sharp, emotional and risks being divisive. But it is also true that Yogi’s message reaches directly to those voters who do not see any division between religion and nation. The politics of Uttar Pradesh is now once again standing between the “light of the lamp” and the “symbol of darkness”, the only difference is that this lamp is now made not only of clay, but of thoughts.