Advertisement
Sunday, Jun 04, 2023
Outlook.com
Outlook.com

BJP's Politics Has Always Revolved Around Mahants, Sadhvis And Yogis

Adityanath's teacher, predecessor and political guru Mahant Avaidyanath, was a four-time Lok Sabha MP from Gorakhpur. He was the chief priest of Gorakhpur temple, gaining a significant role in the Ram Janambhoomi movement

BJP's Politics Has Always Revolved Around Mahants, Sadhvis And Yogis
| File Photo-PTI
BJP's Politics Has Always Revolved Around Mahants, Sadhvis And Yogis
outlookindia.com
2017-03-18T22:06:35+05:30

BJP’s politics has always revolved around mahants, yogis, sakshis and sadhvis. Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath will take oath as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh tomorrow. He will act as a big polarisation factor in the 2019 general elections in the Hindu heartland of India. His page yogiadityanath.in says ‘Hindu Punarjagran ke Mahanayak’.  

His teacher, predecessor and political guru Mahant Avaidyanath, who passed away in 2014, was a four-time Lok Sabha MP from Gorakhpur. He was the chief priest of Gorakhpur temple, gaining a significant role in the Ram Janambhoomi movement by playing the Hindu card in mobilising voters from the community.

The current Union Water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation minister Uma Bharti too played an important role in the Ram Janambhoomi movement. Known as the ‘sanyasin’ politician, she tried to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Mahakaleshwar temple in her capacity as ‘sadhvi’ on Shivratri this February in Ujjain.

 MP Sakshi Maharaj never leaves a chance to court controversy. Notwithstanding the fact that the Supreme Court had ruled that no political party or politician would be allowed to seek vote in the name of religion, he blamed Muslims for a population boom. He made the statement in Meerut this January, two days after Election Commission had announced elections to five states including UP.

He accused madrasas of teaching terrorism and ‘love jihad’, called Mahatama Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse a patriot and asked Hindu women to produce four children. He began his political career with the BJP in 1990s, switching loyalties in the middle but eventually returning. 

Addressing a BJP campaign in Delhi in December 2014, Minister of State Sadvi Niranjan Jyoti stoked controversy by asking voters to choose between ‘Ramzadon’ (those born of Ram ) and ‘haramzadon’ (illegimately born). This statement embarrassed the BJP hugely as opposition attacked the Modi government in Parliament.   

Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi disapproved of such unparliamentary language, Swami Chinmayanand who was MoS Home in Atal Behari Vajpayee government openly backed the sadhvi after her statement. 

Advertisement

Outlook Newsletters

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Read More from Outlook

Lament Of Separation: Songs Of Habba Khatun, Last Queen Of Kashmir, Still Echo In Valley

Lament Of Separation: Songs Of Habba Khatun, Last Queen Of Kashmir, Still Echo In Valley

In happy times and sad, Habba Khatun’s sensuous songs make both young and old emotional. With the never-ending conflict bringing tragedies to every doorstep, Habba’s lyrics of separation amplify their mourning.

How Indian Laws Govern People’s Right To Love And Live

How Indian Laws Govern People’s Right To Love And Live

In India, only those relationships between a man and a woman are considered to be legitimate when there is a marriage between the two.

Kohli Quits Test Captaincy, Leaves Leadership Vacuum

Kohli Quits Test Captaincy, Leaves Leadership Vacuum

Virat Kohli, 33, had recently stepped down as India's T20I captain and was subsequently removed as the ODI captain.

UP Elections 2022: How Congress Is Harnessing Power Of 'Persecuted' Women To Counter BJP

UP Elections 2022: How Congress Is Harnessing Power Of 'Persecuted' Women To Counter BJP

A Mahila Congress leader, who is the face of the ‘Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon’ campaign, however, has accused the party of anti-women bias after she was denied a ticket.

Advertisement