Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has claimed that people of all religions are safe in the state. He said that as a “Yogi,” he wishes for everyone’s happiness. Speaking to ANI, he stated, “If Hindus are safe, then Muslims are also safe in Uttar Pradesh.”
However, his remarks questioning the safety of Hindus in Muslim-majority areas have sparked controversy. “A Muslim family is the safest among a hundred Hindu families. But can 50 Hindus be safe among a hundred Muslim families? No. Bangladesh is an example. Before this, Pakistan was an example. What happened in Afghanistan?” he said, implying that religious minorities face persecution in Muslim-majority regions.
While defending his governance, he asserted that communal riots in Uttar Pradesh had stopped since the BJP came to power in 2017. “Before 2017, if Hindu shops were burning, then Muslim shops were also burning. If Hindu houses were burning, then Muslim houses were also burning. But after 2017, the riots stopped,” he claimed.
Yogi Adityanath also positioned Sanatan Dharma as the “most ancient religion” and suggested that Hindu rulers have never forcibly imposed their faith on others. “There is no example anywhere in the world where Hindu rulers, using their own strength, have established dominion over others,” he said.
His comments on religious processions and communal sensitivities also stirred debate. Defending the covering of a mosque with a tarpaulin during Holi celebrations, he stated that strict instructions were in place to prevent color from being thrown at religious sites but argued that “colors do not harm anyone’s existence.” He compared this to Muharram processions, saying, “Doesn’t the shadow of their flag fall on any Hindu house near the temple? Does it make the Hindu house impure?”
