YOGI ADITYANATH: VOTE TO OPPN WILL BRING BACK CORRUPTION, LAW AND ORDER ISSUES

LUCKNOW: Accusing SP chief Akhilesh Yadav of appeasement, Yogi reminded voters that Yadav offered no condolences to Kalyan Singh, the former chief minister of UP when he passed away. "We all have seen that he visited the house of mafia (Mukhtar Ansari) when he died," he said.

"Jo log Hindu ke marne pe samwedna nahin vyakt kar sakte, woh mafia ke marne pe fatiha padhte hain (those who cannot express sympathy on the demise of Hindus, don't take time to read special prayers when a mafia dies)," Yogi said.

Yogi held rallies in Aonla, Budaon and Jalesar (part of Agra Lok Sabha) on Sunday which are going to polls on May 7.

Sharing the connection of Pandavas with Aonla, Yogi sought answers to 10 questions. "Yudhishthir was made to answer difficult questions by 'yaksh' on your land. I too want answers to 10 questions," he said, listing out the wrong precedents set by Congress, SP and BSP.

"Despite Congress being in govt for 60-65 years and SP-BSP at the helm in U-4 times, they have still created problems. Who is responsible for creating identity and security crises in the country," he asked.

Yogi said that SP and Congress siphoned off funds for subsidies to poor families.

"The BJP govt brought direct benefit transfer model through which money was sent directly to the account of beneficiaries. People did not have enough money due to corruption and unemployment. When they returned home empty-handed, often 'belan' (wooden roller pin used for making 'chapatis') was thrown at them. But the Modi govt gave gas connections to 10 crore families. The state provides free cylinders to underprivileged families on Holi and Diwali," he said.

Likening the members of the Yadav family with the negative characters from the Mahabharata, Yogi asked the voters in Aonla to be cautious while voting. "SP and Congress are in an alliance, and you should go through their manifestos. They are going to take away your property in the name of 'virasat tax'. They also want to reduce the quota being offered to OBCs, SCs and STs to appease one community and want to increase quota for Muslims," he said.

Thanking voters for supporting the party which respects 'sanatan' culture, Yogi said if Congress really wanted, it could have constructed Ram temple in Ayodhya within 10 years of the country's independence.

In Jalesar, Yogi appreciated a group of people which had gifted a 21-ton bell for Ram temple in Ayodhya. "When it rings before Ram Lalla, the entire country gets the vibration of Sanatan culture," he said.

In Badaun, Yogi highlighted the benefits and increased opportunities that the local population was expected to get in the coming months.

"Ganga Expressway will bring down travel time for the local population and promote industrialisation in the region," he said.

Stressing that the vote to Congress, SP and BSP would mean revival of corruption and poor law and order, Yogi said, "These parties gave country made guns in the hands of youths. We are giving them jobs."

Yogi assured the voters that upon getting the third term free health cover of 5 lakh is going to be offered to all individuals who are over the age of 70 in the country. Taking a jibe over opposition, Yogi said that in Budaun Samajwadi Party changed its candidate three times before finally fielding Shivpal Yadav's son Aditya. "They have already given up. They know the BJP candidate is winning from Budaun," said Yogi.

In Agra (SC), BJP has fielded sitting MP Satyapal Singh Baghel while in Budaon and Aonla, DS Shakya and Dharmendra Kashyap (sitting MP) are in the fray. SP-Congress alliance candidates Suresh Chandra Kadam, Aditya Yadav and Neeraj Kushwaha Maurya are contesting from Agra, Badaun and Aonla.