Yogi Adityanath Accuses Congress of Planning to Implement Sharia Law and Redistribute Property

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has made serious allegations against the Congress party, claiming that their election manifesto expresses an intention to implement Sharia law in the country and redistribute people's property. Speaking at election rallies in Amroha and Baghpat on Tuesday, Adityanath accused the Congress and its allies of betraying the country.

Adityanath alleged that the Congress manifesto includes plans to introduce personal laws for a specific community, which he claimed is an attempt to bring Taliban rule to the country by implementing Sharia law and redistributing people's property. He argued that this conflicts with the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar. The chief minister also accused the Congress of secretly planning to seize people's property, including jewelry from daughters, sisters, and mothers, to distribute among themselves.

Why this matters: These allegations by a prominent BJP leader against the opposition Congress party come amid a heated Lok Sabha election campaign. The claims about Sharia law and property redistribution have the potential to further polarize voters along religious lines and impact the election outcome in Uttar Pradesh and beyond.

Adityanath questioned whether the country should be run by the Constitution or Shariat. He referenced a 2006 comment by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who said Muslims have the first right to the country's resources, asking where that would leave other communities. The chief minister praised the Modi government for controlling terrorism and abolishing Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

In his speeches, Adityanath criticized the Samajwadi Party for withdrawing cases against terrorists who attacked Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya and the Sankat Mochan Temple in Kashi. He accused the Congress and Samajwadi Party of living for themselves and their families without caring for the poor and deprived people. Adityanath warned that casting votes for the wrong parties could lead to the resurgence of terrorism and mafia rule in the state.

The chief minister highlighted the BJP's focus on development, stating that the distance from Amroha to Delhi has been reduced from five hours to one and a half hours. He also praised the BJP's ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for fielding a dedicated party worker from the Baghpat seat, in contrast to the Samajwadi Party which fielded its entire family. Adityanath's accusations have intensified the electoral discourse ahead of the second phase of voting in Amroha on April 26, 2024.

Key Takeaways

• Yogi Adityanath accuses Congress of planning to implement Sharia law and redistribute property.
• Adityanath claims Congress manifesto aims to introduce personal laws for a specific community.
• Adityanath criticizes Congress and Samajwadi Party for being self-serving and soft on terrorism.
• Adityanath praises BJP's development work and ally RLD's candidate selection in Baghpat.
• Adityanath's allegations could further polarize voters along religious lines in Uttar Pradesh.