Opp scared of losing minority vote bank, silent on foreign invaders in past: CM Yogi Adityanath

Indian Express

a day ago

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday targeted the Opposition parties, hitting out at the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) in particular, and claimed that 'fear of losing minority vote bank' prevented these parties from uttering a word against foreign invaders of the country in the past.
Adityanath was in Bahraich to attend an event, 'Vijayotsav of Maharaja Suheldev', during which he inaugurated a memorial dedicated to Maharaja Suheldev and unveiled his equestrian statue. He also questioned why national icons such as Maharaja Suheldev were not honoured earlier and no grand memorials, universities or medical colleges were named after such personalities in the past.
The CM said, 'While the BJP commemorates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with the Statue of Unity, the SP sings praises of divisive figures such as Jinnah. When we talked about celebrating Suheldev's valour, the SP and the Congress argued over holding weddings for Ghazi Miyan. We have made it clear — glorifying invaders must end and national heroes must be honoured.'
The state government has built the memorial at a cost of around Rs 40 crore and has also established a 40-ft bronze equestrian statue of Maharaja Suheldev.
Adityanath also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 384 development projects worth Rs 1,243 crore and planted a sapling under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign.
He thanked those who discontinued events held in the name of Ghazi Miyan and also remembered Maharaja Balbhadra Singh on his birth anniversary.
The CM pointed out that Maharaja Suheldev, a millennium ago, had presented a strategic and valiant response to foreign invaders, yet never received the honour he deserved in history. 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign for development and heritage inspired our double-engine government to honour Maharaja Suheldev,' he said.
He added that Bahraich's medical college has been named after Maharaja Suheldev, as has the state university in Azamgarh. The hospital is named after Rishi Balark. 'Our main events in Bahraich will now be dedicated to Suheldev, Rishi Balark and Maa Pateshwari—not any foreign invader,' the CM said.
He said that Salar Masud, a foreign invader who marched into India with an army of around 300,000, was 'systematically stopped from Mathura to Bahraich by Maharaja Suheldev's strategic brilliance'. By the time Masud reached Chittora (the place in Bahraich where Suheldev's memorial and statue are built), half of his army had been defeated. In the decisive battle, Suheldev's 20,000-25,000 warriors eliminated around 150,000 of Masud's soldiers. Masud was captured alive.
Thanking BJP workers, the CM said, 'Your enthusiasm since morning shows that the fair must celebrate Maharaja Suheldev, not invaders such as Salar Masud.' Referring to PM Modi's 'Panch Pran' (five pledges), the CM said, 'Respecting heritage means honouring Suheldev. Freedom from colonial mindset means ending events held in the name of Masud.'
He declared that while history may have been unjust to Maharaja Suheldev, the double-engine BJP government will not allow that injustice to continue. 'He was a symbol of valour and bravery. Those who fought alongside him to protect India's land and faith from foreign invaders were also long deprived of recognition and benefits.'
The Chief Minister also announced that a grand memorial would be built in Lucknow in honour of Maharaja Bijli Pasi, who defeated foreign invaders. He recalled that four women warriors from the 1857 revolt had dealt major blows to the British forces.
The medical college and university in Jhansi have been named after Rani Laxmibai. In Budaun, a women's PAC battalion has been formed in the name of Veerangana Avantibai Lodhi, and her equestrian statue will be installed there. In Lucknow, construction is underway for a women's PAC battalion named after Veerangana Uda Devi—about 35-40% of the work has been completed, and her statue will be installed upon completion. A similar battalion is also being established in Gorakhpur in the name of Jhalkari Bai, along with a grand statue.
The CM also informed that a memorial and cultural centre is under construction in Lucknow in honour of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, which will be completed by December. He added that scholarships for SC/ST students are being arranged and would be implemented from this platform.
The Chief Minister proposed that from next year onwards, the event should be held over three days. 'This will ensure that no one can erase the legacy of national heroes such as Maharaja Suheldev from the pages of history,' he said.