YOGI ADITYANATH BIOGRAPHY
Yogi Adityanath, also known as Ajay Singh Bisht, is a prominent Indian politician and the current Chief Minister of the state of Uttar Pradesh. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has been serving as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh since March 2017. Yogi Adityanath is known for his strong views on Hindu nationalism and his commitment to promoting the development of Uttar Pradesh.
- Early Life and Education
Yogi Adityanath was born on June 5, 1972, in Panchur, a small village in the district of Pauri Garhwal in the state of Uttarakhand. His real name is Ajay Singh Bisht, but he later adopted the name Yogi Adityanath after becoming a monk. His father, Anand Singh Bisht, was a forest ranger. Yogi Adityanath completed his schooling from a local school in his village and later moved to Uttarakhand for his higher education.
Yogi Adityanath was inclined towards spirituality from a young age, and he became a disciple of Mahant Avaidyanath, a prominent Hindu ascetic and founder of the Gorakhnath Math, when he was still in school. He left his home and joined the Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, after completing his graduation in science from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand.
- Political Career
Yogi Adityanath’s political career started when he became the youngest member of the 12th Lok Sabha in 1998, at the age of 26, representing the Gorakhpur constituency. He has since been elected to the Lok Sabha from the Gorakhpur constituency five times in a row. He is known for his strong views on Hindutva and has been a vocal advocate of the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
In 2017, Yogi Adityanath was appointed as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh after the BJP won a landslide victory in the state elections. As the Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath has focused on promoting the development of the state, improving law and order, and addressing issues such as corruption and unemployment.
Under his leadership, the state government has launched several initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the people of Uttar Pradesh. These include the Kisan Uday Yojana, which provides financial assistance to farmers, and the Anti-Romeo Squad, which is aimed at curbing harassment of women in public places.
Yogi Adityanath has also been actively involved in promoting the development of infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh. The state government has launched several projects aimed at improving the road, rail and air connectivity in the state. These include the Purvanchal Expressway, which connects Lucknow with Ghazipur, and the Jewar International Airport, which is being built in Greater Noida.
- Controversies
Yogi Adityanath has been involved in several controversies throughout his political career. The most notable ones include:
Yogi Adityanath has been charged with promoting intergroup conflict and making derogatory remarks about Muslims. He was detained in 2007 on suspicion of instigating racial violence in Gorakhpur. He has also been accused of making inflammatory speeches during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots in Uttar Pradesh.
Hate Speech: Yogi Adityanath has been accused of making hate speeches against Muslims and other minority communities. In 2015, he was booked for making a speech in which he reportedly said that those who oppose the Yoga Day celebrations are “anti-national” and “should drown themselves in the sea”. He has also been accused of making derogatory remarks against Muslims, including calling them “green virus” and “love jihadis”.
Casteism: Yogi Adityanath has been accused of promoting casteism and discriminating against Dalits and other lower castes. In 2012, he reportedly refused to attend a function in a Dalit locality, saying that it was not “clean enough”. He has also been accused of promoting a caste-based hierarchy in the Gorakhnath Math, where he is the head priest.
Encounters: Yogi Adityanath has been accused of promoting extra-judicial killings and encounters in Uttar Pradesh. During his tenure as the Chief Minister, there have been several instances
- Yogi Adityanath Role In Ram Mandir Case
Yogi Adityanath played a significant role in the Ram Mandir case, which was one of the most contentious issues in Indian politics for several decades. The dispute centered around the Babri Masjid, a mosque in Ayodhya that was built in the 16th century by Mughal emperor Babur. Hindus claimed that the mosque was built on the site of a temple that was dedicated to Lord Ram, one of the most revered deities in Hinduism.
Yogi Adityanath was a vocal advocate for the construction of a Ram temple at the site of the Babri Masjid. He was a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a right-wing Hindu organization that was at the forefront of the movement to build a temple at the site. He participated in several rallies and protests demanding the construction of the temple, and was arrested several times for his involvement in the movement.
In 1992, a group of Hindu activists, led by the VHP and other right-wing organizations, demolished the Babri Masjid, sparking communal violence across the country. The incident led to several court cases, including one that was filed in the Supreme Court in 2010, seeking a resolution to the dispute.
In 2019, the Supreme Court of India delivered a verdict in the Ram Mandir case, ruling in favor of the construction of a Ram temple at the site of the Babri Masjid. The court also directed the government to provide an alternative site for the construction of a mosque.
After the verdict, Yogi Adityanath, who was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh at the time, hailed the decision as a “historic moment”. He announced that a grand temple would be built at the site, and that the state government would provide all necessary assistance for its construction. He also called for peace and harmony, and urged people to maintain communal harmony and respect the decision of the court.
