"If Hindus Are Safe, Muslims Are Safe", Says Yogi Adityanath On Minorities In UP

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has again asserted that individuals of all religions are secure in the state, claiming that Muslims are secure when Hindus are secure. In an interview with ANI, he reiterated his identity as a "Yogi" who desires the well-being of all.

Religious Tolerance and Safety in Uttar Pradesh
Emphasizing the religious tolerance in Hindu-dominated regions, Adityanath said, "A Muslim family is safer than 100 Hindu families. They can do anything as per their religious practices. But are 50 Hindus safe in 100 Muslim families? No. Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan are instances."

He said Uttar Pradesh has not seen communal riots after 2017, when the BJP took power, and attributed previous violence to political instability prior to his rule. "If Hindus were not safe prior to 2017, then Muslims weren't either. Shops and homes of both communities were targeted. Since 2017, there have been no riots," he said.

Sanatan Dharma and Hindu History
The Chief Minister also referred to Sanatan Dharma as the world's oldest religion and culture. He stressed that Hindus never tried to impose religious domination through the use of force, saying,
"There is no example anywhere in the world of Hindu rulers establishing dominion over others by force."

"Namuna" Jab at Rahul Gandhi
Taking a fierce swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Adityanath called him a "specimen" and said his political presence is a boon for the BJP. He mocked the Congress leader's Bharat Jodo Yatra as "Bharat Todo Abhiyan," and accused him of defaming India's reputation overseas.

He also criticized the Congress for its position regarding Ayodhya, Triple Talaq, and infrastructure growth, asking why the party could never settle the Ram Janmabhoomi conflict or market Kumbh Mela as a source of national pride.

Temple Conflicts and Court Judgments
Talking about the current religious place controversies, such as Sambhal and Mathura, Yogi Adityanath reiterated that temples would be restored on the basis of evidence. He stated,
"Islam states temples of worship constructed on ruined Hindu temples are unacceptable to God. Then why were they constructed?"

In the case of Mathura Krishna Janmabhoomi, he said,
"We are following the court's verdict; otherwise, nobody knows what might have occurred till now."

His comments indicate the government's continued interest in solving historical religious conflicts, especially those concerning Hindu temples said to have been destroyed in the past.