‘Kashi, Ayodhya done…now we’ll focus on Brij Bhoomi’: In Mathura, Yogi Adityanath seeks support for Hema Malini

He also urged people not to waste their votes on Opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress. “When the SP, BSP or Congress parties cannot ensure development, cannot ensure security and are not in a position to ensure the welfare of our poor then why should the nation bear their weight? When we have no hope from these parties, do not waste votes on them,” Adityanath said.

Adityanath, who launched a series of ‘Prabhudh Sammelan’ meetings from Mathura on March 27, was in the town on Thursday to support Hema Malini, who filed her nomination papers seeking a third successive term as MP.

“Since out of the three religious cities, Mathura will go to polls first (April 26), hence the message should be sent from here to Ayodhya and Kashi that Mathura is waiting still and this will happen when you ensure victory to Hema ji for the third time in a row with a record margin. She should get more votes than her combined votes in the first two stints,” Adityanath said.

The Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh will be held in all seven phases from April 19 to June 1.

Adityanath said that the Congress had ruled the country for 60 years but they never thought of bettering conditions at Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura-Vrindavan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added, had turned the impossible into possible in only 10 years of his tenure.

“The SP leaders sprayed Ram bhakts with bullets and anyone who dared to raise the slogan of Jai Shri Ram was shot at by the then government. But now, a magnificent temple has taken shape for Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, and a picturesque Kashi Vishwanath corridor has been built… on a similar pattern, we have to develop temples in Mathura and Vrindavan. Three places will be developed to promote spiritual tourism in Uttar Pradesh,” Adityanath said.

The chief minister also referred to the alleged remarks made by Congress MP Randeep Surjewala against Hema Malini in Haryana recently, saying that leaders and parties who disgrace the “aadhi aabadi (women)” will not just be ousted by the women but also by the entire country.

“In a democracy, freedom of expression is ensured but remarks should not be individualised and no one should be targeted for one’s art, culture or caste. Whoever is making such remarks is digging his own grave,” Adityanath warned.

He said that the scenario in the Opposition camp is such now that parties are not getting candidates who can be fielded against the BJP and their alliance counterparts. “The height is that owing to a dearth of candidates, Samajwadi Party leaders are being fielded by the Congress and vice versa. This could happen in these elections because ‘Phir se ek baar…’ is the only sound that can be heard in the entire country,” Adityanath said.