Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday sought to know from his Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah why he was promoting beef consumption, if he considered himself a Hindu.
Addressing a well-attended Navakarnataka Nirmana Parivarthana rally of the BJP at Vijayanagar in the city, Adityanath said, "Hinduism is a way of life. It upholds high values and traditions. It does not allow beef-eating. If you (Siddaramaiah) consider yourself a Hindu, why are you promoting beef consumption?"
Siddaramaiah, at a recent political convention, had asserted, "I am also Hindu and I have Rama in my name. BJP people should refrain from calling me anti-Hindu."
Adityanath said when the BJP was in power in the state it brought in a legislation for a total ban on cow slaughter. But the Congress repealed the law.
He said Siddaramaiah had "suddenly" realised that he was a Hindu, ahead of the Assembly polls.
"The strength of the people who follow Hinduism makes people like Siddaramaiah realise that he is a Hindu. (AICC chief) Rahul Gandhi starts visiting temples," he added.
He accused the ruling Congress in the state of dividing people on religious lines. He said there was a complete breakdown of law and order in the state and 24 Hindu activists had been murdered during the Congress regime. The government even opposed the triple talaq bill. The Congress should make its stand clear on the issue, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.
He accused the Congress of using Karnataka as an ATM to fund its activities, while stalling development in the state. Adityanath said the Congress rule in Karnataka had taken the state backwards due to poor administration. Adityanath accused the state government of not allowing the programmes of the Centre to reach the people. "The time has come for having BJP in power both at the Centre and in the state," he said.
BOX
Yogi cites UP-Karnataka link
The Uttar Pradesh chief minister, who held the post of chief priest of Gorakhnath Mutt in Gorakhpur, peppered his speech with Sanksrit verses and instances from the Ramayana. He said there was a close link between Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
"Lord Rama was born in Uttar Pradesh, while Bajrangabali Hanuman's birthplace is in Karnataka. The deity Gorakhnath of Uttar Pradesh is known as Lord Manjunatha in Karnataka, the protector of cows," he said and added that there would be a repeat of BJP's resounding victory in Uttar Pradesh in Karnataka.
Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar pointed out that Adiyanath closed down illegal slaughter houses within days after coming to power in Uttar Pradesh.
