Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday took a swipe at the Opposition (without naming the SP) and cautioned people against divisive forces who humiliate people from the hills (“Devbhoomi”) by spewing venom at them, but embrace infiltrators and patronise the mafia by bowing before them.
The chief minister stated that those who point fingers at the people of Uttarakhand conveniently forget their immense contribution to the nation’s defence. “Such people are repeatedly rejected by the public. Their sympathies lie not with folk traditions, culture, or faith, but rather with notorious mafia elements. Referring to freedom fighter Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali, the chief minister noted that when he was ordered to open fire on innocent Indians during British rule, he firmly refused.
Adityanath said that Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, the first chief minister of UP, hailed from Uttarakhand. “The sacred rivers—Ganga, Yamuna, Saryu, Rapti, and Ramganga—all originate from Uttarakhand; thus, calling the people of Uttarakhand “infiltrators” is a sign of a narrow, divisive mindset,” he said. “A youth from Uttarakhand, standing guard at the borders, does not distinguish whether he is stationed on the borders of Uttarakhand, in Arunachal Pradesh, or in Rajasthan—for him, the nation’s security is paramount,” Adityanath said. They shed tears when a mafia member dies,” he said.
He emphasised that the government stands with the people of Uttarakhand.
This festival beautifully showcases a blend of the culture of Awadh and the pride of ‘Devbhoomi’, he said.
