7 hours ago
Last Updated:March 12, 2025, 17:49 IST
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pointed out that the holy Akshay Vat, situated inside the Allahabad Fort, was locked during the colonial rule, depriving devotees of darshan for centuries, while sacred sites like Saraswati Koop and Patalpuri remained neglected.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath (PTI file image)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday took a sharp dig at the state’s previous governments saying that ancient sites in Prayagraj, including, Akshay Vat, Mata Saraswati Koop, Patalpuri, Shringverpur, and others, were encroached upon through ‘land jihad’ during their tenure.
While speaking at the ‘Manthan: Kumbh and Beyond’ Vichar Sangam event, organised by the RSS-affiliated weekly Organiser, Yogi slammed that the previous governments saying that the holy city, known to be the land of Maharishi Bharadwaj and home to the world’s first Gurukul, was once controlled by the “land mafias", who illegally took over historic sites.
“This severely affected the heritage and significance of these sacred places," Yogi said.
The Chief Minister further pointed out that the holy Akshay Vat, situated inside the Allahabad Fort, was locked during the colonial rule, depriving devotees of darshan for centuries, while sacred sites like Saraswati Koop and Patalpuri remained neglected.
Yogi further said that the holy site of Shringverpur, known to be site of friendship between Lord Ram and Nishadraj as per the scriptures, was also encroached by alleged “land jihad".
He further claimed the his government freed the encroached holy sites ahead of the Maha Kumbh mela as a gratitude towards India’s ancient traditions.
“During the Maha kumbh, our government built new corridors and freed these sites, which is a symbol of gratitude towards India’s ancient traditions," he said.
Maha Kumbh Showed True Essence Of ‘Sanatan Dharma’
He highlighted that the Maha Kumbh not only displayed India’s strength and the true essence of ‘Sanatan Dharma’ but also changed the negative perception of Uttar Pradesh. “Through Maha Kumbh, we successfully achieved both objectives," he said.
“The world watched in amazement and curiosity," Yogi remarked, adding that Sanatan Dharma has no place for discrimination, and Maha Kumbh was a testament to that.
Calling it a unique opportunity for Uttar Pradesh to present its positive image on the global stage, Yogi said that the event witnessed a record-breaking 66 crore 30 lakh devotees taking a holy dip, describing it as “the world’s largest spiritual, religious, and cultural gathering."
“The government successfully implemented the Digital Mahakumbh concept, reuniting 54,000 lost individuals with their families through a digital lost-and-found center. 1.5 lakh toilets were built and linked with QR codes, and a mobile app in 11 languages was introduced to assist pilgrims," he added.
CM Yogi emphasised that special arrangements were also made to ensure no devotee had to walk more than 3 to 5 kilometers. “While the initial estimate was 40 crore visitors, the actual turnout exceeded 66 crore 30 lakh", he said.
Maha Kumbh Exposed Opposition’s Mindset
The CM further slammed opposition saying, “Expecting positivity from those with a negative mindset is pointless." He criticised previous governments, citing the disorder and mismanagement of Kumbh under Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) rule from 1954 to 2013.
He recalled the 1954 Kumbh tragedy, where over 1,000 people lost their lives, the 2007 natural disaster that caused significant loss of life and property, and the 2013 incident where the then Prime Minister of Mauritius shed tears after witnessing the filth at Sangam. “Past governments turned Kumbh into a hub of chaos and dirt, and today, the same people are questioning our ‘Swachh’ Mahakumbh," he remarked.
He said that the opposition’s negativity had distanced them from the people, who taught them a lesson by attending Kumbh in massive numbers.
Maha Kumbh 2025
The Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest gathering, concluded in Prayagraj on Maha Shivratri, marking the final day of the festival on Wednesday.
On the last day, Yogi Adityanath shared on social media that over 66.21 crore devotees had participated in the sacred bath at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers during the festival.
From January 13 to February 26, the event saw people from across the country and beyond, including politicians, athletes, industrialists, and Bollywood celebrities, take a holy dip at the sacred Triveni Sangam.
The religious fair saw unprecedented security measures, including anti-drone systems and AI-enabled cameras, to monitor the Mahakumbh Nagar, which was set up as UP’s 76th district for the event. Spread across 40 hectares, it remained busy with activity 24/7 over the past six weeks.
Location : First Published:March 12, 2025, 17:49 IST
News politics ‘Prayagraj’s Ancient Sites Were Encroached By Mafias': Yogi Adityanath’s 'Land Jihad' Salvo At Previous Govts
