Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asserted that communal harmony has prevailed in the state under the BJP government, claiming that “Muslims are safe if Hindus are safe”. In an interview with a media agency, the Chief Minister said no communal riots have occurred in the state since 2017 when the BJP came to power.

Emphasising mutual safety and religious coexistence

Highlighting the notion of religious tolerance among Hindus, Yogi Adityanath remarked that a Muslim family can live securely among 100 Hindu families and practice their faith freely. However, he questioned whether the reverse would be equally safe in Muslim-majority areas, citing examples from neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

“In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims are the safest. If Hindus are safe, then they are also safe,” he stated, recalling that earlier riots impacted both communities. He added, “After 2017, the riots stopped.”

Sanatan Dharma and historical perspective

Yogi Adityanath, who is also the Mahant of Gorakhnath Temple, described Sanatan Dharma as the world’s oldest religion. He said Hindu rulers in history never imposed their beliefs on others, and followers of Sanatan Dharma have never converted others by force.

“There is no example in the world where Hindu rulers used their power to dominate others,” he claimed.

Criticism of Rahul Gandhi and Congress policies

Taking a sharp dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Yogi Adityanath referred to him as a “specimen”, stating that such figures benefit the BJP politically. He criticised Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, calling it a “Bharat Todo Abhiyan”, and alleged that the Congress party had prolonged the Ayodhya dispute deliberately.

He further questioned why the Congress failed to abolish triple talaq or promote cultural events like Kumbh with pride, and why it couldn’t deliver world-class infrastructure.

Remarks on disputed religious sites and legal battles

On matters concerning disputed religious sites, such as the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal and the Mathura mosque, Adityanath said the state government is abiding by court rulings. However, he also hinted that the situation could have escalated if not for legal restraints.

“Scientific evidence is there, and as more comes forward, we will revive temples. We will show the world where they are,” he said.

He also cited Islamic teachings, questioning the legitimacy of religious structures allegedly built upon demolished temples, adding, “Islam says such places are not accepted by God. Then why were they built?”

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has reaffirmed that the state government is acting strictly within the legal boundaries regarding ongoing land and religious site disputes in Mathura and Sambhal. Responding to criticisms over recent government actions, including the controversial “bulldozer” drives, he stressed that the administration is adhering to court directions.

Speaking on the Mathura religious site issue, Adityanath emphasized the importance of Shri Krishna’s birthplace and underlined the government’s legal compliance. “We are following the orders of the court. Or else, a lot could have happened there,” he said.

The Chief Minister also addressed the concerns surrounding the Sambhal dispute, reiterating that the state is operating through proper legal channels. He raised questions about the construction of mosques on what he described as “Hindu sites”, claiming that such acts go against Islamic teachings. “Sambhal is a truth. You have complete freedom of worship… but you have deviated from the principles of Islam,” he said, highlighting the discovery of 54 out of 64 religious sites in the area.

On the broader backlash over “bulldozer action”, Adityanath defended the state’s approach, saying, “Those who believe in justice, justice is done for them. Those who take justice and law into their own hands, they are taught a lesson in the framework of law.” He added that sometimes people need to be “explained in the language they understand”, particularly when they resort to violence.

The remarks reflect the Chief Minister’s continued commitment to his administration’s hardline policies, while maintaining that all actions are being conducted legally and in response to court directives.

BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut has come out strongly in support of the ongoing civic action against comedian Kunal Kamra for his gaddar remark.  

Drawing a contrast with the 2020 demolition of her Mumbai office during the Uddhav Thackeray-led regime, the actor defended  the action against stand-up comedian and called it legal unlike her Mumbai office demolition in 2020.  

Addressing media outside Parliament, Ranaut backed the move following Kamra’s parody video on Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Referring to Shinde’s humble beginnings, she said, “A man for whom respect is everything, you are insulting him in the name of comedy. Shindeji used to ply an auto-rickshaw once. Now he has risen so much.”

Kangana was referring to a recent incident where Shiv Sena workers vandalised a studio in Mumbai used by Kamra, after his parody video on Shinde went viral. The incident was followed by a demolition exercise at the Khar studio by civic officials who cited violations of building laws. The sequence of events has triggered debate over freedom of speech and alleged political targeting.

While the incident has sparked a debate on freedom of speech, Ranaut dismissed comparisons with her own case. He also asserted that the issue should not be seen through the same lens as her 2020 experience. “That was illegal, this is legal. You can be anyone, but insulting someone is wrong,” she said.

Ranaut also criticised Kamra’s content, accusing him of mocking religious texts and personal lives “for two minutes of fame”. Backing Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, she said people must be accountable for their words and actions.

In 2020, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished part of Ranaut’s Pali Hill office citing encroachment, following her row with Shiv Sena leaders over the handling of the Sushant Singh Rajput case. The Bombay High Court later halted the action and questioned the civic body’s intent. Ranaut was not a BJP member then.