NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, calling him a “namuna” and alleging that the Congress party deliberately keeps the Ayodhya controversy alive.
In an interview with ANI, Adityanath criticised Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, calling it a “Bharat Todo Abhiyan” and alleging that the Congress leader was working against India’s interests. “He criticises India outside India. The country has understood his nature and intentions. In India’s politics, Bharatiya Janata Party ke liye Rahul jaise kuch namune rehne chahiye jisse ek rasta hamesha ke liye saaf hota rahe aur acha rahe,” he remarked.
Adityanath also questioned Congress’ governance over the past decades, accusing the party of failing to fulfil developmental promises. “Ek Bharat ko Shresht Bharat nahi hona chahiye? You should ask them, then, what were they doing for six to ten decades? He should have asked his grandfather, grandmother and father. Why didn’t they do it at that time?” he said.

The UP CM claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi had realised the vision Congress failed to implement, pointing to initiatives such as the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, abolition of triple talaq, and promotion of the Kumbh Mela.
Taking a swipe at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Adityanath accused him of glorifying figures like Jinnah, Babar, and Aurangzeb. “Those (Opposition) who respect Aurangzeb and Babar will be able to see those qualities in them. People have seen it with their own eyes, and they will see it in the future as well,” he said.
Yadav had earlier faced criticism for a 2021 remark where he mentioned that Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Jinnah had all studied at the same institute and contributed to India’s freedom struggle.