CM Yogi hits back at Congress leader’s remarks on Manusmriti, says: If you want to understand Manu, read the Atharvaveda and Shatapatha Brahmana
CM pays tribute to Avadh Kesari Rana Beni Madhav Baksh Singh, remembers the heroes of 1857 uprising
Congress state president’s “double standards” exposed after having a fish feast following prayers at Hanumangarhi: CM Yogi
CM Yogi attacks Gandhi family over Amethi-Raebareli, says it has created an “identity crisis” for the region
Suggests installing Veera Pasi’s statue at Rana Beni Madhav memorial, stresses honouring families of martyrs
Congress state president bowed before the mafia accused of murdering his brother: CM Yogi
Lucknow, August 2026 : CM Yogi Adityanath launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a commemorative ceremony held on 222nd birth anniversary of Avadh Kesari Rana Beni Madhav Baksh Singh, the legendary hero of the First War of Independence of 1857.
Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Manusmriti, CM said that as the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi is expected to demonstrate accountability towards democracy and Constitution. “If you want to understand Manu, you should read the Atharvaveda, Shatapatha Brahmana and Matsya Purana,” he said.
He added that no person goes through life without receiving care and protection of women in the form of a mother, sister, wife or daughter. India’s tradition concerning relationships between men and women, he said, needs to be understood in its broader context rather than viewed selectively.
CM Yogi said Rahul Gandhi has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution, yet considers it his “birthright” to criticize India’s traditions and heritage. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi goes outside Uttar Pradesh and “defames and insults” the state and goes outside India to “insult the country”.
He said the Indian Army fights enemies on the borders, while Rahul Gandhi asks soldiers for proof. He also alleged that Congress has questioned the existence of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.
Chief Minister said children and young people should not be led in a direction that could later force their parents or families to apologize. Referring to alleged abusive remarks against the Prime Minister at Jantar Mantar, he said the girl concerned and her mother later withdrew the remarks and apologized.
CM Yogi said Prime Minister is not merely an individual but a constitutional institution of India. Therefore, he said, using abusive language against Prime Minister amounts not only to insulting an individual but also to insulting the institution and the country.
Chief Minister accused Rahul Gandhi of allowing “urban Naxals” to damage the future of present generation and questioned why he wanted to destroy India’s heritage and jeopardize the country’s future.
He said the country had expected Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of Opposition, to play a positive and responsible role, but alleged that he had completely distanced himself from his responsibilities. CM Yogi also questioned the Congress’s commitment to democracy, citing the Emergency imposed in 1975.
Aiming to highlight the political influence of the Gandhi family, CM Yogi said Amethi and Raebareli had supported the family for decades. Still, the same family had also created an identity crisis for the region. He said it was now for the people to decide what kind of politics and leadership were required for development.
CM Yogi said the Congress had shown greater interest in naming monuments and institutions after one family than in honoring great freedom fighters such as Rana Beni Madhav Baksh Singh, Lala Chand Sonekar and the valiant Veera Pasi.
He alleged that honoring the country’s real heroes had never been a priority for the Congress. He said the Congress had for years referred to Kakori Train Action as a “loot”, thereby insulting freedom fighters.
Chief Minister said his government had worked to establish due respect for freedom fighters and other national figures. Along with the construction of grand Ram Temple, he said, figures such as Maharishi Valmiki, Goswami Tulsidas, Nishadraj and Mata Shabari had also been accorded due honor.
CM Yogi alleged that Congress’s top political family bore responsibility for the Partition of the country and large-scale violence that followed.
He said the Congress had consistently weakened democratic institutions and should apologize to the people of India. He also alleged that the Congress had difficulty accepting national heroes such as Veer Savarkar, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He recalled that the Port Blair airport had been named after Veer Savarkar during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government but was later renamed by a Congress government.
Chief Minister further alleged that Congress glorified people who acted as informers for British and conspired against revolutionaries. He stressed the need to teach present generation the history of country’s real heroes.
CM Yogi referred to Sachindra Nath Bakshi, a revolutionary associated with the Kakori Train Action, who was sentenced to life imprisonment and released after Independence.
He said Bakshi later joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and was elected MLA from Varanasi South. According to CM, Bakshi had stated in the Assembly that a Congress leader had acted against him and helped send him to prison by providing information to the British.
CM Yogi alleged that a Congress government later named a road in Lucknow after such a person, while revolutionaries such as Sachindra Nath Bakshi were forgotten.
Chief Minister questioned what he described as the Congress leaders’ “double standards”. He alleged that while insulting India’s heritage, Congress leaders also engaged in “political posturing” over religious faith. He claimed that a Congress state president had visited Hanumangarhi in Ayodhya and subsequently attended a fish feast. CM Yogi described this as an example of the Congress’s “double standards”.
He said that after chanting “Ram-Ram” in a temple and bowing before Bajrang Bali, such conduct was shameful. He added that “even a chameleon would be embarrassed” by such behavior. Chief Minister further alleged that Congress state president’s brother had been killed by a mafia figure and claimed that instead of speaking out against the accused, state president had “bowed before and surrendered” to him.
CM Yogi described Rana Beni Madhav Baksh Singh as a great son of Bharat Mata and a towering figure of India’s freedom struggle. He said the country would always remember his courage, valor and sacrifice. On behalf of the state government and people of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister paid tribute to his memory.
CM Yogi said the First War of Independence of 1857 remained incomplete without Uttar Pradesh. He said Rana Beni Madhav Baksh Singh led the movement across the Avadh region and recruited thousands of local people into his army to fight the British. Under his leadership, he said, the freedom struggle gained widespread momentum across Avadh.
Chief Minister also paid tribute to great heroes of Bharat Mata, including Mangal Pandey, Dhan Singh Gurjar, Nana Saheb, Tatya Tope, Rani Lakshmibai, Veera Pasi, Raja Madhav Singh, Raja Chandrika Baksh Singh, Lala Chand Sonekar, Fateh Bahadur and Basant Singh.
CM Yogi said the first phase of work on Rana Beni Madhav Baksh Singh memorial had been completed. The total sanctioned budget was ₹21 crore, while approximately ₹25 crore had been spent. For the second phase, he suggested installing statues of Veera Pasi and his associates at the memorial. Chief Minister also said that programs should be organized throughout the year, with freedom fighters and the families of martyrs invited and honored on these occasions.
