Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued a stern challenge to the Samajwadi Party, urging them to take decisive action against party leader and Maharashtra MLA Abu Azmi following his controversial remarks glorifying Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.
During a session in the Legislative Council, Adityanath called for the expulsion of Azmi, stating that the Samajwadi Party must clarify its stance on this issue. He emphasized, “Uttar Pradesh knows well how to deal with such individuals.”
Further escalating his criticism, Adityanath condemned Azmi’s veneration of Aurangzeb, questioning, “Does he even deserve to live in India if he honors a tyrant while dismissing the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?” He accused the Samajwadi Party of hypocrisy, highlighting their criticism of the Kumbh event while simultaneously glorifying a leader known for his destructive rule.
Adityanath insisted the Samajwadi Party must publicly condemn Azmi’s remarks and expel him from the party. He challenged them to either bring Azmi to a public gathering for clarification or send him to Uttar Pradesh, asserting that they would manage the situation.
Pointing to India’s rich cultural heritage, Adityanath criticized the party’s admiration for Aurangzeb, claiming their actions contradict the ideals of socialist leader Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, who valued India’s cultural unity. “If you do not take pride in India’s heritage, at least uphold the principles of the leader whose name you use,” he remarked.
He further stated, “The Samajwadi Party has strayed far from Lohia’s ideology, turning from celebrating Indian culture to attacking its very foundations.” Adityanath recalled the historical events of Aurangzeb’s reign, stressing that the current political stance of the Samajwadi Party reveals a disconnection from India’s true cultural values.
With this ongoing controversy surrounding Azmi’s remarks, the Chief Minister is demanding the Samajwadi Party clarify whether it stands by a ruler who imposed taxes on non-Muslims and attempted to erase India’s faith and traditions. Adityanath’s challenge to the party continues to draw attention as the political discourse intensifies.
