Hindu Rashtra remark: Congress slams Yogi; asks to eradicate poverty, unemployment

A day after Yogi Adityanath spoke in favour of Hindu Rashtra, the Congress on Friday asked the UP CM to concentrate on development of the state.

New Delhi, April 7: The opposition Congress has criticised Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath over his remark on Hindu Rashtra on Friday. The Congress has asked the new chief minister of India's most populous state to work towards eradicating poverty and unemployment, instead of engaging in 'politics of polarisation'.

"I don't think problems like poverty and unemployment will reduce by declaring India a Hindu Rashtra. Adityanath should work on some concrete policy instead of playing around on sentimental issues. It seems like he is involving into politics of polarisation by making such statements," Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam told ANI.

Nirupam added that the Uttar Pradesh chief minister should focus on overall development of the state.

"According to the Constitution of India, our nation is secular. This is Adityanath's own view that he wants to make India a Hindu Rashtra, but the fact is our Constitution is paramount," said Congress leader Pramod Tiwari.

In an interview to Doordarshan, Adityanath on Thursday said, "I want to say something clearly. That is, the idea of Hindu Rashtra is not wrong. A full bench of the Supreme Court has clearly ruled that Hindutva is not a... religion, or a ritual but a way of life. If this rashtra (nation) and raasta (road) helps to improve the lifestyle of people, to bring them happiness, then there should be no reason why anyone should hesitate to adopt it."

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