edited by: Revathi Hariharan
Last Update: January 28, 2023, 12:40 PM IST
Yogi Adityanath made the statement while speaking at Neelkanth Mahadev Temple in Bhinmal, Rajasthan (Photo: @myogiadityanath)
In his speech, Yogi also called for a campaign to renovate the dilapidated temple on the lines of Ayodhya, where a grand temple of Lord Rama is being built after 500 years.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said, ‘Sanatan Dharma is the national religion of India’ and every Indian citizen should respect it. He was speaking at a program at Neelkanth Mahadev Temple in Bhinmal, Rajasthan.
The chief minister was presiding over the restoration and consecration program of the idol at the temple and urged the people to launch a campaign to restore desecrated religious places on the lines of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Jalore, Raj | Sanatan Dharma the ‘National Religion’ of India. Rising above selfishness, we join the ‘Rashtriya Dharma’. May the country be safe… When our religious places were desecrated, the restoration campaign started. Construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya started after 500 years..: UP CM(27.1) pic.twitter.com/DMEJy1WCZT– ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2023
In a video of the speech, Yogi Adityanath can be heard saying, “Sanatan Dharma is the national religion of India. Rising above selfishness, we join the national religion. If a campaign is started for the restoration of desecrated religious places, then our country will be safe.
The statement was immediately criticized by the Congress. Former MP Udit Raj tweeted, “Yesterday I got a call from some Buddhist friends that if Sanatan Dharma is the national religion then what will happen to us?” Who can deny the existence of Sanatana Dharma? I thought that Yogi ji should be asked whether there are other religions or not, that’s all. There should be an intellectual discussion.
In his speech, Yogi also called for a campaign for the restoration of the dilapidated temple on the lines of Ayodhya, where a grand temple of Lord Rama is being constructed after 500 years with the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The UP CM said, “All of you devotees, representing the national spirit, contributed to the construction of this grand national temple of Lord Rama.”
Yogi Adityanath praised Rajasthan for being the focal point of coordination of Dharma, Karma, Bhakti and Shakti. He said, ‘If you want to understand the real secrets of religion, then it is necessary to come to Rajasthan.’
He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi Pledged everyone in the country to respect their heritage and preserve it. “The grand restoration of Lord Neelkanth’s temple after 1400 years is an example of respect and preservation of heritage,” he said.
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