50 crore devotees at Maha Kumbh : Yogi has come out with flying colours
Nearly two crore devotees took a holy dip at the Maha Kumbh on the occasion of Maghi Purnima on Wednesday. The population of the city of Prayagraj is roughly 60 lakhs, and the devotees that reached the Maha Kumbh was four times that number. There was no stampede, no panic, and the devotees took their holy dip amidst chants of hymns and bhajans.
The Maha Kumbh has completed almost one month, and more than 50 crore people have taken their holy dip in the last 30 days. Except India and China, this figure of 50 crore is more than the population of any country. If one adds the population of 119 countries of the world, it could reach 50 crore. This is really unimaginable and unbelievable.
Concerns were being expressed by opposition leaders over how the UP government would handle such a huge number of devotees and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has come out with flying colours.
The day was really challenging, Yogi woke up soon after midnight and reached the war room set up at the Chief Minister’s residence as live visuals of devotees at the Maha Kumbh started pouring in. Yogi personally monitored the flood of devotees with UP Police chief Prashant Kumar, Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad and other senior officials sitting by his side.
By 11 am, when it appeared that everything was smooth, Yogi left his residence. At Baghpat in western UP, Yogi apologized to the crowd for being late and told people that he was hopeful about the total number of devotees crossing 50 crore by the end of the day.
Without naming former CM Akhilesh Yadav, Yogi lashed out at leaders who were trying to create a scare and dissuading devotees not to go to Prayagraj. “People know what the reality is and they are not going to listen to those leaders who sneak into the Maha Kumbh to take a holy dip”, Yogi said.
Yogi’s top officials were on the toes to ensure that there were no unnecessary jams in Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mirzapur and Chitrakoot. Senior policemen were deployed to ensure that there was no obstruction in movement of people and vehicles.
The first challenge that Yogi Adityanath faced was, how to handle the huge crowd that would assemble at the Maha Kumbh. Managing such a huge number is not an easy job, but the entire world has now noticed how the crowd was managed in a peaceful manner.
Yogi’s second challenge was, more and more devotees were moving towards Maha Kumbh from different states like MP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bengal and Odisha, after seeing visuals of other devotees taking a holy dip on TV.
Yogi’s third challenge was, a large number of devotees after attending the Maha Kumbh were going to Ayodhya for the darshan of Lord Ram Lala at the new temple and were also visiting Varanasi to take the blessings of Lord Vishwanath. These two cities were facing the spillover of devotees returning from Prayagraj. Naturally, more police force was required and arrangements had to be made for food, water, sanitation and stay for the devotees. This was a huge responsibility for Yogi’s government.
The final challenge came from politicians from the opposite spectrum. They were taking potshots at Yogi after the stampede that took place on Mauni Amavasya. Some alleged that thousands of devotees died, some other criticized what they called “failure of crowd management”, and most of the opposition leaders blamed “VIP culture”. But the fact is, leaders who were levelling allegations, went quietly to the Maha Kumbh, took their holy dip and came back unannounced.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh took a dip on Wednesday, while Akhilesh Yadav had gone to Maha Kumbh a few days ago. Both admitted that they faced no problems while going to the Maha Kumbh as commoners.
By ensuring perfect crowd arrangement at Maha Kumbh, Yogi has given a stinging reply to the opposition. Yogi showed that Akhilesh Yadav’s allegations do not hold water.
By ensuring that more than 50 crore devotees went to the Maha Kumbh and returned safely, Yogi Adityanath has displayed his dexterity in crowd management and he deserves praise.
Maha Kumbh : Yogi’s wonderful planning and management
I had the opportunity to visit the Maha Kumbh Mela at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, where I recorded a special TV show with UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. I asked questions relating to all issues that have been raised about Maha Kumbh.
The questions ranged from whether the water at Sangam was fit for bathing and drinking, the mode of measurement of the crowds that led to the claim that more than 9 crore pilgrims visited Maha Kumbh in the first week, the arrangements that were made for their food, hygiene and cleanliness.
There was also a question on how much UP would gain from religious tourism by spending Rs 7,500 crore on Maha Kumbh. There were some political questions too, like what was the need to convene a full-fledged Cabinet meeting at Maha Kumbh, whether entry of Muslims to the Kumbh Mela area has been banned, whether his ‘Bantogey Toh Katogey’ slogan was raised at the Mela?
Yogi Adityanath did not evade any question. He replied to each question, clearly and succinctly. There were several thousand people watching him speak. The audience was highly enthusiastic. Earlier, police had set up barricades to stop people from approaching the TV stage. When I saw from the stage, people shouting slogans and waving hands from a distance, I requested Yogi to ask police to allow people to come nearer. Yogi immediately responded and asked police to allow people to come nearer.
The response was electrifying. Several thousand people began running towards the TV discussion area, shouting slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’, ‘Har Har Mahadev’. The entire show with Yogi Adityanath will be telecast on India TV on Republic Day eve, Saturday (January 25) at 10 pm.
In my ‘Aaj Ki Baat’ show on Thursday night, I showed a question-answer sample. By watching it, you can have a fair glimpse of how the common public was involved in the TV discussion. Yogi Adityanath’s replies were emphatic. Due to time constraints, I could stay at the Kumbh township only for a few hours, but the zeal and energy level of pilgrims was astonishing and unique.
From all directions, thousands of people were walking long distances to reach the pontoon bridges to take a dip at the Sangam, considered the holiest place on Earth during Maha Kumbh Mela. Only a limited number of vehicles were allowed to enter and most of the people were walking continuously in the direction of the bathing ghats. Some carrying backpacks, some carrying loads on their heads, but most of them were nonchalant. Most of the pilgrims looked happy.
At several places, ‘bhandara’ (free kitchens) were arranged for providing food to the pilgrims. The rest were singings bhajans as they marched towards the ghats.
At some places, those from the ‘nat’ (traditional acrobats) community were holding their shows, with a girl walking on a tight rope. At some places, babas with hairlocks on their heads were giving ‘pravachan’ (sermons) to the devouts listening attentively. Shopkeepers selling goods on ‘rehdi, thela, khomcha’ (handcarts) were doing good business. Somebody told me ‘chaiwallahs’ were earning as much as Rs 20-22 thousand a day at the Mela, while beds were available for Rs 100 for a single night. Those who could afford were staying in luxury tents paying up to Rs one lakh.
Overall, the arrangements were foolproof. From common people, I was surprised to hear praises for UP police. Most of them were saying that the police were helping them as friends. Lakhs of people were visiting Prayagraj in trains. The station was kept clean and policemen were deployed to keep a close watch. Those having apps on their mobile phones were told when their trains would leave, and when a train would arrive at the platform. Policemen were seen helping the aged from being pushed around in the melee. The director general of UP Police told me that police personnel were given training for six months on how to deal with the crowds patiently and in a friendly manner. In my TV show, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth praised his police.
You can gauge the vast magnitude of work that was put in efficiently, only when you visit the Maha Kumbh. The most happy ones were the sadhus and other ascetics. Their sermons were being shown on TV and other platforms. Some holding their arms high, some sitting cross-legged in front of a fire, some using ‘chimtas’ (iron tongs) to ward off pesky people. The crowd was crazy to see Naga sadhus, who do not wear even a loincloth and perform their penance under hard conditions.
A sadhu told me that it was the media which was taken the electrifying spirituality of the Maha Kumbh to each and every home in India, by adding a touch of glamour. This was the reason why people, in millions, are visiting Maha Kumbh daily.
Yogi Adityanath himself is doing a hands-on job. He has been visiting the Kumbh almost every other day. On Wednesday, he was there with his contingent of 54 cabinet ministers, and all of them took a holy dip at the Sangam. It was only after Yogi and his ministers took their holy dip, that the chief minister came to join my TV show.
Maha Kumbh: World’s Biggest Event Ever
On January 13 this year, the world will witness the beginning of the world’s biggest event ever at the holy Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, where more than 40 crore devotees are expected to take a holy dip at the confluence of two rivers, Ganga and Yamuna.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is personally supervising the mega arrangements. A sprawling township has come up on an area of nearly 5,000 acres, ready with 1.5 lakh tents, 1.5 lakh green toilets manned by 15,000 safai karmacharis, 1,240 km long pipe lines have been laid, and more than 50,000 tap water connections have been provided. Two km away from Sangam, a huge space has been kept for parking more than 20,000 vehicles. Two hospitals, one with 100 beds and another with 220 beds have already started working. 92 new roads have been laid, and the Sangam township is dazzling with 67,000 LED lights and 2,000 solar lights.
The entire township has been divided into 25 sectors. The Sangam township has been declared a separate district, having its own district magistrate and Superintendent of Police. The first ‘shahi snan’ (main bathing) will take place on January 13 and the last ‘shahi snan’ will be on February 26. Twelve new bathing ghats (banks) have been built and a riverfront has been developed over 12.5 km area. Chequered plates have been laid on an area of 550 sq km to ensure that the devotees do not have to walk in mud.
Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday conducted a survey of the Kumbh Mela preparations and expressed his satisfaction. Thirty pontoon bridges will be built, out of which 28 are ready. More than 50,000 security personnel from UP Police and para-military forces will be deployed. They will be commanded by 218 IPS officers. Underwater drones, that can go 100 metre deep, will be used for the first time in Kumbh Mela. Four central commands will work in tandem with a control room. Nearly 350 experts will monitor the areas that will draw huge crowds.
Kumbh Mela takes place after every 12 years. This time, it has been named Purna Maha Kumbh, because it will occur after 144 years (12 Maha Kumbh Melas multiplied by 12). Astrologers and Sanatan spiritual leaders have described this as the most auspicious occasion. Yogi Adityanath is leaving no stone unturned to make this mega event a success.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also involved in finetuning the arrangements. Modi has advised use of digital technology to project the rich heritage of Kumbh Melas. The aim is to attract youths towards India’s ancient heritage. The broader objective is to convey India’s message of devotion and faith to the rest of the world. It is surely going to be a spectacular event.
On Hindutva, riots : Yogi at his vintage best
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday did not mince words in the Assembly, when he said, ” Chanting of ‘Jai Sri Ram’ is neither communal, nor provocative, but a symbol of faith.” He said, “People in India often greet each other with ‘Ram Ram’, and even during funeral procession, ‘Ram Naam Satya Hai’ is chanted..Nothing can happen in India without Ram. Then how can you (opposition) call ‘Jai Sri Ram’ slogan communal?”
This was vintage Yogi at his best. He raised a basic question. “If a Muharram procession can pass through any locality peacefully, then why can’t a Ramnavami or Hanuman Jayanti procession or idol immersion procession pass through a Muslim locality in peace? It is the duty of the government to provide security to all irrespective of religion. But if people start throwing stones, then it is also the responsibility of our government to catch every stone thrower and give punishment.” Yogi said, “India shall be run by the ideals of Ram, Krishna and Buddha, and not by the paths of Babur and Aurangzeb.”
On the Sambhal riots, Yogi said, truth is now coming out. A temple in Sambhal was reopened after 46 years on Monday and broken idols were found inside a well. Yogi said, “the Muslims of western U.P. now want to go back to their roots. In Sambhal, it is a fight between Muslims of Turkish ancestors and Pathans.”
Normally, I find, politicians in India do not do as they say in public. There is often a difference in what they say in public and what they do. Yogi is a politician of a different mettle. He says what he does, and he does what he says. This makes Yogi stand apart from other politicians. Yogi replied to all questions that have been raised frequently. Like, Is Yogi working on Hindutva agenda? Does Yogi’s government order use of bulldozers against Muslim properties only? Are Hindus deliberately allowed to play DJ music at loud volume outside mosques? Do Hindus have a hand in communal riots? Is chanting of Jai Sri Ram a crime? Is hoisting saffron flag a crime?
Yogi’s answers were quite clear. He made his “neeti”(policy) and “neeyat”(intent) quite clear. He did not mince words to say that India’s culture and traditions do not belong to Babur and Aurangzeb, but to Ram, Krishna and Buddha. He explained how use of bulldozers in UP is being done as per Supreme Court’s guidelines and no differentiation is made between Hindus and Muslims. Yogi quoted Baburnama and Allama Iqbal’s poetry, and said, the days are gone, when people used to force their ideas on others at gunpoint.
On the death of five Muslims in Sambhal violence on November 24, Yogi gave details on how 209 Hindus died in riots in Sambhal from 1948 till 2024. In the 1978 riots in Sambhal, 184 Hindus were killed, but none of the so-called secular parties demanded justice for Hindus. Yogi said, during Samajwadi Party’s rule, there were riots between even Shias and Sunni Muslims, but during BJP’s rule, this has come to an end. The matter in Sambhal has now gone beyond temple-moque dispute. Demographic statistics say, in 1947, there were 45 per cent Hindus in Sambhal, but now hardly 15 per cent Hindus stay in that town. Statistics say, a large number of Hindus migrated from Sabhal after the 1978 riots, and local Muslims bought Hindu properties at throwaway prices. Temples in Hindu locality were demolished. The truth has now tumbled out after broken idols were found from inside the well of a temple that was reopened after 46 years.
Bulldozer and Baba: Action to continue
The Supreme Court, in its landmark judgement on “instant bulldozder justice”, has framed strict pan-India guidelines for demolition of properties. The guidelines say, no demolition of any alleged structure will be carried out without 15-day prior notice to the owner, both by registered post and pasting it on the outer walls of the property. The time period will tick from the date of receipt of notice by the owner. Notice shall delineate nature of unauthorised construction, specify violations, grounds of demolition and fix a date for personal hearing for the owner before a designated authority. The final order for demolition will not be implemented for 15 days to allow the aggrieved person to approach the courts.
Demolition must be videographed and the authorities will have to send a report to the civic authorities. Violations of guidelines will lead to initiation of contempt proceedings in addition to prosecution. Officers concerned will be asked to restore the demolished structure to its original state at their personal cost and they will also be liable to pay damages.
One must understand two major points relating to the judgement. One, the apex court has not imposed a “ban” on use of bulldozers for razing illegal properties. Only guidelines have been issued that must be followed strictly. Two, provision for giving 15-day prior notice was already there in the rule book. There was also provision to hear the accused and they had the right to appeal. What the apex court on Wednesday decided was to ensure that the bulldozers are not used in a hurry, and a transparent procedure must be followed.
The implications now will be that if any heinous crime takes place, bulldozers will not be used to raze the properties of the criminal immediately. Fifteen days’ time has been given. As far as bulldozer actions prior to the apex court verdict are concerned, I have some data. These data say, there were more than 2,000 bulldozer actions since 2017 in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra and Gujarat. But the biggest hue and cry was raised over demolitions done during UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s rule.
This was because Yogi’s administration had razed the ill-acquired properties of top gangster leaders and rioters like Mukhtar Ansari, Atiq Ahmed, Vikas Dubey, Vijay Mishra and others. Ill-gotten properties of mafia dons were razed and homes were built for the poor on those plots. The Supreme Court verdict has nothing to do with Yogi Adityanath’s government. UP government was not a party to the case which was before the Supreme Court. The apex court was hearing a petition filed by Jamiat Ulama-e- Hind against North Delhi Municipal Corporation and others. But when political leaders started reacting to the Supreme Court verdict, the UP government had to respond.
A spokesperson from UP government welcomed the verdict as a significant step forward and said, “this ruling will increase criminals’ fear of the aw, and it will make easier for the administration to keep a leash on mafia elements and organised professional criminals. The first requirement of good governance is rule of law. The rule of law applies to everyone.” The implication is quite clear. Yogi’s government is not going to tone down its drive against gangsters, rioters and criminal elements.
Yogi to Kharge : Why silence on killer Razakars?
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, at his Akola, Maharashtra, rally, launched a direct attack on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. He mentioned about how Razakars owing allegiance to the then Nizam of Hyderabad had burnt his ancestral village, Warwatti, in 1946, killing his mother and sister.
Yogi said, “Kharge Ji is unnecessarily getting angry with me. I respect his age. He should express his anger with the Nizam of Hyderabad, whose Razakars burnt his village, mercilessly killed Hindus and took the lives of his mother, sister, and family members. He should bring this truth before the nation and the world. Only then people will know the meaning of my slogan, ‘Bantogey Toh Katogey’. He is refraining from placing this truth before the nation due to vote bank compulsions. He is deceiving the nation. I am only a Yogi. I have learnt only one thing. Do whatever is good for your country. For me, there can be nothing greater than my country and Sanatan Dharma.”
Yogi was only quoting from history. Kharge, while addressing a Congress workers’ convention at Delhi’s Talkatora stadium on August 17 last year, had said, “It is my misfortune that I could not see my mom, my brother, sister and uncle, because our home was burnt during the riots that led to Hyderabad liberation. Only my father and I were alive. It was in 1946, as riots went on from 1946 till 1948. My father and I fled the village and we later settled in Gulbarga.”
Yogi was responding to Kharge’s criticism that he made at his Maharashtra and Jharkhand rallies. Kharge had said, “A true yogi cannot use language like ‘Bantogey Toh Katogey’. Such language is used by terrorists. Yogi is the head of a mutt, wears saffron robes, but believes in ‘Munh me ram, Bagal Mein Chhuri’ (a wolf in lamb’s clothing).”
One must understand why Yogi raised the Hyderabad Razakar’s atrocities while replying to Kharge’s charge. The Congress President has often disclosed how he and his father fled their village during the 1946 riots and their family members died at the hands of Razakars. But Kharge never mentioned the Razakars or Nizam in his speeches.
It was Yogi who grabbed this point and put a poser to Kharge. Yogi alleged that Kharge was avoiding mention of Nizam and Razakars because his Congress party was concerned about keeping its Muslim votes intact. One BJP leader remarked, how can you call it secularism, when Kharge lost his family to jihadi Razakars and yet he speaks about Hindus as terrorists.
Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot hit back saying, “BJP leaders are intimidating the public. They brought the “Ek Rahengey, Safe Rahengey” slogan later, to control the damage, but their original slogan was ‘Bantogey Toh Katogey’. This is a dangerous slogan. Is this not at attempt to intimidate people? This is a clear indication of the way they want to do politics in the name of religion during elections.”
Hindu sadhus have openly lent support to Yogi. Jagadguru Rambhadracharya said, “despite many sects, Hindus must remain united. Only then nobody can harm us. United we remain strong. Saffron is the colour of Bhagwan. It was this saffron flag which Shivaji used to unite Maharashtra. Bhagwadharis should remain in politics, not those who are suited-booted.” It was Mallikarjun Kharge who had questioned Yogi’s saffron robes.
Maharashtra, Jharkhand : Modi, Yogi Slogans Game Changers ?
Opposition parties in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections are foxed by two slogans given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath. They are unable to work out a proper response. It was Yogi who coined the slogan “Bantoge Toh Katogey” (Divided, You Will Be Finished). A few weeks later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Jharkhand and Maharashtra rallies, coined the slogan “Ek Hain, Toh Safe Hain” (United, We Are Safe).
Both these slogans have become main issues in the assembly elections in both these states. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP founder Sharad Pawar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and other top Congress leaders are busy trying to chalk out a proper response. While some leaders are abusing Yogi in public, others are cursing the UP CM.
Let me cite some examples: Congress President Kharge said in his Nagpur and Jharkhand rallies “A true yogi cannot use language like ‘Bantogey Toh Katogey’. Such language is used by terrorists. Yogi is the head of a mutt, wears saffron robes, but believes in ‘Munh me ram, Bagal Mein Chhuri’ (a wolf in lamb’s clothing).”
BJP leaders promptly demanded apology from Kharge for making such remarks. Kalki Dham Peeth chief Acharya Pramod Krishnam, who spent most part of his life in Congress, said, “leaders who oppose saffron robes, are anti-Hindus, they cannot be patriots and the people will teach Congress a lesson this time.”
In Maharashtra, BJP published front-page ad displaying PM Modi’s “Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain” slogan, but Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut objected to the ad. He said, the ad shows people of all sections wearing headgears, but the caricature of a Muslim wearing ‘jaalidar topi’ was missing. Raut alleged, BJP has only a single cap, and that’s the RSS black cap.
Some Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders, however, hold a different view. They feel that since BJP is trying mobilize Hindu votes, it will definitely have a backlash and may result in polarization of Muslim voters, which will surely help the anti-Modi bloc. Already Muslim leaders are active.
On Monday in Jaipur, qazis, moulvis and other Muslim leaders, including a Congress MP, gathered at a convention to demand the withdrawal of Waqf Amendment Bill, which is presently before a Joint Parliamentary Committee. The convention was named Tahaffuz-e-Auqaf, meaning ‘protection of Waqf properties’. The convention gave a ‘Chalo Delhi’ call on November 24 to all Muslim organisations.