Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
India

Hindutva Icon Yogi Adityanath Is New Uttar Pradesh CM

Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 Mar, 2017 12:49 PM
    In a surprise move, the BJP on Saturday chose firebrand Hindutva leader Yogi Adityanath as the new Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister with two deputies -- a first in the state -- in Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma.
     
    The new dispensation would be sworn in on Sunday at 2.15 p.m., Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after a meeting of the newly-elected 312 BJP legislators here. The oath taking ceremony is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah and union ministers and Chief Ministers of various states.
     
    Naidu said Adityanath, 44, the five-time Gorakhpur MP, emerged as a consensus candidate in the first meeting of the new legislature party. 
     
    "As soon as the MLAs heard Yogiji's name, they stood and supported the proposal," said the minister, who was the BJP observer for the selection of the Chief Minister.
     
    "Eleven MLAs proposed his name and all others unanimously supported it." 
     
    Naidu said Adityanath -- who comes from the Rajput community -- wanted two other "senior leaders" to help him run the government smoothly and state BJP chief Maurya and Lucknow Mayor Sharma were chosen as Deputy Chief Ministers.
     
    This is for the first time in the history of Uttar Pradesh that the state will have two deputy heads of the government. BJP sources told IANS here that this was done to balance caste aspirations since now there is a Rajput as chief minister and an MBC and a Brahmin face as deputies.
     
    Adityanath is the head of the Gorakhnath Mutt in Gorakhpur, which has millions of followers from eastern Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring Nepal. 
     
     
    A science graduate, the Chief Minister-designate is popular for his fiery speeches among his supporters but has antagonised minorities by his statements like "Love Jihad" and "Ghar Wapasi".
     
    Known for his hardline Hindutva politics, he had proposed a US-like anti-Muslim immigration ban to stop terrorism in India. "Similar action is needed to contain terror activities in this country," he said in his controversial remarks ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections that the BJP won with a landslide, trumping the opposition.
     
    He also courted controversy by comparing western Uttar Pradesh, which has a huge concentration of Muslims, with Kashmir over the alleged Hindu exodus from Kairana. "Have you forgotten the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990? If you do not wake up even now, you will also be forced to migrate to other regions," he said, promising to act "strictly" against those who were forcing Hindus to flee if the BJP came to power.
     
    Opposition parties lashed out at the BJP over the election of the Hindutva leader for the top post in the country's most populated state.
     
     
    "There is a categorical, unambiguous message being sent by Prime Minister Modi. With the choice of a very communal, a Hindutva champion like Yogi Adityanath, the BJP is going to pursue a policy of clear polarisation," Congress leader Sanjay Jha told IANS.
     
    Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy said it was the prerogative of the BJP, which is in a majority, to make the choice but "it is evident that it wants to pursue a strong Hindutva line"
     
    Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Brinda Karat told IANS: "The choice is a clear RSS agenda because they want to develop Uttar Pradesh as the centre of Hindutva project."

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Ludhiana: Teenager Chops Up 9-Year-Old's Body, Eats Flesh, Drinks Blood; Arrested

    Ludhiana: Teenager Chops Up 9-Year-Old's Body, Eats Flesh, Drinks Blood; Arrested
    As per police, the initial plan of the accused was to demand a ransom, but foreseeing failure of his plan, he ended up murdering the victim.

    Ludhiana: Teenager Chops Up 9-Year-Old's Body, Eats Flesh, Drinks Blood; Arrested

    No One Can Defeat Congress Unless Congress Defeats Itself: Navjot Sidhu Calls For Unity

    No One Can Defeat Congress Unless Congress Defeats Itself: Navjot Sidhu Calls For Unity
    A day after taking the fight to the Badal camp, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Congress candidate from Amritsar East, asked party cadres to “stay united” to throw out the SAD-BJP government.

    No One Can Defeat Congress Unless Congress Defeats Itself: Navjot Sidhu Calls For Unity

    SAD-BJP Alliance Will Waive Off Farm Debts In Punjab If Voted Back To Power: Sukhbir Badal

    SAD-BJP Alliance Will Waive Off Farm Debts In Punjab If Voted Back To Power: Sukhbir Badal
    Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir also promised to give bonus of Rs 100 per quintal on foodgrain and Rs two lakh agricultural crop loan to all farmers once it returned to power.

    SAD-BJP Alliance Will Waive Off Farm Debts In Punjab If Voted Back To Power: Sukhbir Badal

    Over 3.5 Lakh People Sing National Anthem, Set New World Record

    Over 3.5 lakh people today set a new world record by singing the National Anthem at an event at Kagvad in Rajkot district of Gujarat.

    Over 3.5 Lakh People Sing National Anthem, Set New World Record

    Bihar Forms World's Largest Human Chain Against Alcoholism And Liquor

    Bihar Forms World's Largest Human Chain Against Alcoholism And Liquor
    The 'unexpected' rush of participants resulted in increase in distance on determined route of human chain to 11,400 km, he said.

    Bihar Forms World's Largest Human Chain Against Alcoholism And Liquor

    Pakistan Frees Indian Soldier, Family Overjoyed

    Pakistan Frees Indian Soldier, Family Overjoyed
    Sepoy Chavan's kin and residents of his native village Bohivir in northern Maharashtra were overjoyed on his release. His family thanked authorities for securing his safe return.

    Pakistan Frees Indian Soldier, Family Overjoyed