Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made controversial remarks Wednesday, suggesting that Indians who don’t feel pride in the Ayodhya Ram temple should have their national identity questioned.
Speaking at a weekly tribute ceremony commemorating the 56th death anniversary of Mahant Digvijaynath and the 11th death anniversary of Mahant Avaidyanath at Gorakhnath temple, the chief minister delivered pointed statements about national pride and religious identity.
Here’s what UP CM Yogi Adityanath said on Ayodhya Ram Temple:
“Today, who in India would not feel proud seeing the grand temple at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya? If someone does not, then their being Indian itself is doubtful,” Adityanath declared during the ceremony.
The chief minister connected the temple’s construction to the legacy of the two deceased mahants, claiming they had envisioned removing what he termed “symbols of slavery” and building the grand Ram temple by eliminating the disputed structure that previously occupied the site.
‘Fulfilling Religious Vision’
“Today, that dream of both Mahant Digvijaynath and Mahant Avaidyanath has been fulfilled,” Yogi Adityanath stated, linking the temple’s completion to their spiritual guidance.
Drawing from Sanskrit philosophy, the chief minister emphasized that every individual possesses potential requiring proper direction. He praised both mahants for their societal leadership through “commitment and sacrifice, dedicating their lives to the country and religion.”
Saints and National Identity
Yogi Adityanath elaborated on the role of religious leaders in society, explaining that “a saint regards society as his family and the nation as his clan, with his only identity being Sanatan Dharma.”
He emphasized the power of religious commitment, declaring: “When a true saint takes a vow, its results are bound to be seen,” before adding that “the Ram temple stands as a testimony to the mahants’ determination and struggle.”
The remarks come amid ongoing political discourse about religious identity and nationalism in India. The Ram temple, inaugurated in 2024, was built on the site of the former Babri Masjid, which was demolished in 1992, leading to decades of legal battles and communal tensions.
Adityanath’s comments reflect his administration’s emphasis on Hindu religious identity as central to Indian nationalism.
