The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also asserted that state has witnessed no communal riots since the BJP came to power in 2017.
Asserting that people from all religions are safe in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that Muslims are safe if Hindus are safe. In an interview, the UP CM said he is a “Yogi” and wishes for everyone’s happiness.
Elaborating on Hindus’ religious tolerance, he said, “A Muslim family is the safest among 100 Hindu families. They will have the freedom to practise all religious customs. But can 50 Hindus be safe among 100 Muslim families? No. Bangladesh is an example. Before this, Pakistan was an example. What happened in Afghanistan? If there is smoke or someone is being hit, we should be careful before we get hit. That is what needs to be taken care of.”
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also asserted that state has witnessed no communal riots since the BJP came to power in 2017. “In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims are the safest. If Hindus are safe, then they are also safe. If there were riots in UP before 2017, if Hindu shops were burning, then Muslim shops were also burning. If Hindu houses were burning, then Muslim houses were also burning. And after 2017, the riots stopped,” he added.
Adityanath said Sanatan Dharma is the most ancient religion in the world and stressed that there are no examples in world history of Hindu rulers establishing dominion over others.
On Islam
“Islam says places of worship constructed after destroying Hindu temples are not accepted by God. Then why were they built?” he asked. He said the government would continue to revive temples as more evidence is found. “The scientific evidence is present. We are showing where they are, and we will address them one by one.”
Asked about the Mathura mosque dispute, he said, “We are abiding by the court’s decision; otherwise, who knows what could have happened by now?”