After Karnataka, Yogi to take forward Hindutva outreach in Ayodhya
AHEAD OF 2019 LOK SABHA ELECTIONS, THE BJP IS LIKELY TO STEP UP ITS HINDUTVA OUTREACH TO COUNTER THE CHALLENGE POSED BY THE UNITY OF RIVALS IN UP — THE SAMAJWADI PARTY (SP) AND THE BAHUJAN SAMAJ PARTY (BSP).
LUCKNOW: After wooing Karnataka voters on the Hindutva plank, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is set to take forward the religious outreach in Ayodhya on Saturday, when he welcomes a bus launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Nepal.
According to schedule, Adityanath will welcome the inaugural Janakpur (Nepal)-Ayodhya bus launched from the neighbouring country on Friday.
Janakpur is believed to be the birthplace of Ram’s wife Sita while Ayodhya is synonymous with Ram.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) organises a ‘Ram baraat (marriage procession)’ from Ayodhya to Nepal every year to recreate the route taken by Ram to Janakpur, where he won Sita as his wife, according to the Ramayana.
During his stay in Ayodhya, Adityanath is expected to reaffirm BJP’s commitment to Ram temple and development of Ayodhya, according to party leaders.
A BJP leader said the bus service launched by PM Modi and welcomed by Adityanath would not just help in cementing the bond between Nepal and India, but also reiterate the party’s commitment to Hindutva.
He said the chief minister would welcome the bus during a programme at Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya.
“Officials of Nepal government are also likely to visit Ayodhya by the bus and may speak about the cultural ties between India and Nepal during the programme,” the leader said.
After the programme, Adityanath will visit Saryu ghat where he will perform ‘Saryu puja’.
Ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP is likely to step up its Hindutva outreach to counter the challenge posed by the unity of rivals in UP — the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
An RSS leader on condition of anonymity said the narrative was likely to grow further as 2019 nears.
During his poll campaign in Karnataka, Adityanath had laced his election speeches with a liberal dose of Hindutva, saying that while Ram was born in Uttar Pradesh, his loyalist monkey god Hanuman was from Karnataka.
According to his adviser, Mrityunjay Kumar, “By mentioning religion and talking of our great ancient heritage, he bridged the geographical and linguistic divide between UP and Karnataka.”
Another BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, said Adityanath deftly used religious allegory throughout his Karnataka campaign that was dotted with stopovers at temples and mutts, many of which were connected with the chief minister’s Nath sect.
He said the party organised Adityanath’s public meetings in coastal areas of Karnataka which were the stronghold of Congress and Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah.
“Karnataka’s influential Lingayat and Vokkaligas communities have great faith in these mutts which is the reason why the BJP roped in Yogi for Karnataka poll campaign,” he said. “Yogi is a blend of religion and politics.
His twin designations as the head priest of Gorakhnath temple and that of UP CM are handy in convincing the masses that Hindutva and development are one,” said Chandramohan, a BJP leader with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) background.
Adityanath is the head priest of Gorakhpur’s Gorakhnath temple which is named after Baba Gorakhnath, the founder of Nath sect.
During his overnight halt in an influential mutt on Wednesday, Adityanath was reportedly told that Gorakhnath is known as Manjunath in Karnataka, which proved his utility in the BJP’s scheme of things.