Yogi: Nationalism a supreme religion that protects nation

Stressing on the spirit of nationalism, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that nationalism was the supreme religion that protected a nation and gave dignity to individuals, irrespective of caste and creed.

Unveiling the statue of King Mihir Bhoj, a ninth-century king, the chief minister said that Bhoj believed in nationalism and it was because of the sense of security given by him to the people of the country that foreign invaders did not attack India for one-and-a-half centuries after his rule.

He added: “A nation that forgets its history and traditions cannot protect its geography. Bhoj’s life was dedicated to preserving India’s glorious past and national prestige. Similarly, today’s India has risen above caste and community politics in the national interest. We don’t discriminate among people on the basis of caste and community. Our priority is development, irrespective of the caste of creed.”

The chief minister said that great men belonged to the nation and not to any caste or community.
“Taliban reminds us of those foreign invaders who forcefully entered India and played havoc with our rich culture and history. Unfortunately, there are people within India that support the Taliban. We have to guard against this mindset for the honour of our daughters and sisters,” the chief minister said.

Yogi Adityanath said that women felt much safer in UP today than during previous governments.
“Prior to 2017, Kanwar yatras were not allowed and Durga puja was not celebrated. Women of western UP complained about security issues. But now things are different. Over 40 million people take part in Kanwar yatra amid harmony. Rioters and all criminals are being dealt with sternly. We have shut down illegal slaughterhouses and have ensured the security of the female folks,” he remarked.

He added that if Dhaulana was deprived of some developmental programmes, it was because of the absence of a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from the constituency, and therefore people should not “repeat this mistake this time during the upcoming elections”.
Yogi said that Uttar Pradesh had set a model for the entire country to emulate during the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. “The government and social organisations have saved the lives and livelihood of each and every citizen,” he said.

The chief minister said that after 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had changed the political agenda of the country, connecting poor farmers and youth to all the government schemes.
He said that Hapur was traditionally known for its handloom industry and his government had been trying to give it the respect it deserved on the global scale.