NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday hit back at Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav over his controversial “infiltrators” remark, which the BJP alleges was aimed at the residents of Uttarakhand.Adityanath, who was born in Pauri Garhwal, now part of the hill state, said Akhilesh Yadav’s comment reflected a “narrow and divisive” mindset. Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000.“Uttar Pradesh’s first chief minister was also from Uttarakhand,” PTI quoted Adityanath as saying at the Uttarakhand Mahotsav in Lucknow. He was referring to Govind Ballabh Pant, who was born in Almora, now part of Uttarakhand.The chief minister cited several rivers, including the Ganga, Yamuna, Saryu, Ramganga and Rapti, which originate in Uttarakhand, to argue that making such remarks against the people of “Devbhoomi” — a reference to the hill state — reflected a narrow outlook.
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“This is a divisive mindset,” he added.Adityanath also mentioned India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, and former CDS General Anil Chauhan, both of whom hail from Uttarakhand.He also highlighted that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval was born in the hill state. He further stated that almost every family in Uttarakhand has a member serving in the armed forces.Akhilesh Yadav, a former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Adityanath’s principal political rival, had alleged on October 24 that the BJP was presenting “fabricated figures” on infiltrators.He had also claimed that Uttar Pradesh had infiltrators and described Adityanath as an “ideological infiltrator,” adding that he should be sent back to Uttarakhand.
