Akbar wasn’t great, Maharana was: Yogi
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said on Thursday that it was Rajput warrior Maharana Pratap and not Mughal emperor Akbar who was ‘mahaan’ (great).
Adityanath’s statement, made after unveiling a special issue of a fortnightly magazine, at a function on Thursday was endorsement of growing chorus from top BJP leaders about historians not doing justice to Maharana Pratap.
The RSS, VHP and the BJP have consistently maintained that history written during the Congress rule was biased and didn’t do justice to Indian heroes.
“A society cut off from its roots can’t be expected to lay the foundation of a strong future. Our past inspires us to move ahead. Maharana is undoubtedly among the heroes from our past who set a tremendous example of courage, patriotism and sacrifice,” Adityanath said.
Showering lavish praise on the Mewar king, Adityanath said, “Maharana had made it clear that he would not accept Akbar as the ‘badhshah’ despite the fact that the Mughal emperor had sent Raja Man Singh as his emissary. There were several incentives on offer to Maharana
› Maharana is undoubtedly among the heroes from our past who set a tremendous example of courage, patriotism and sacrifice YOGI ADITYANATH, chief minister
if he had accepted Akbar’s request. But, Maharana didn’t compromise his integrity and that’s why even 500 years later Mewar is synonymous with self respect, dignity and self esteem.”
He said had Maharana accepted Akbar’s conditions, we wouldn’t have been remembering him today and Mewar would not have enjoyed the same status as it has now.
RSS leader Narendra Thakur who also spoke on the occasion said the Sangh had been engaged in creating awareness in villages.
“We are reaching more than 3 lakh villages with our magazine. Maharana Pratap’s life and times have always inspired us to lead a full life,” Thakur said.
Chairman of UP SC/ST Commission Brijlal along with RSS leaders Ashok Dubey, Loknath and Diwaker Awasthi too were present.