Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday warned that Maharashtra could become a “base for love jihad and land jihad,” urging voters to ensure the state does not become a “laboratory” for such practices ahead of the November 20 assembly elections.
Speaking at a rally in Achalpur, Adityanath stressed the importance of Hindu unity, modifying the popular phrase “Batenge to Katenge” (if we divide, we will suffer) to “Ek Hai To Safe Hai” (united we are safe). He accused the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of fostering division and creating an environment that could threaten the safety and security of the state’s citizens.
The MVA, which includes the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP, was sharply criticised by Adityanath for allegedly allowing what he called “love jihad” and “land jihad” to thrive in the state. These terms are used by right-wing groups to describe what they claim are efforts by Muslim men to marry Hindu women and convert them, as well as a supposed attempt to seize land for religious purposes.
“The history of India’s division should serve as a lesson,” Adityanath said, referring to the partition of India in 1947. “Because you were divided, this country was divided, and Hindus were killed because they were divided. Don’t get divided. ‘Ek hain toh safe hain’,” he added.
He also revisited the sensitive Ayodhya dispute and praised the resolution of the long-standing issue, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for its resolution.
“We suffered humiliation for 500 years because we were divided,” Adityanath said, asserting that the Ayodhya issue was finally settled in 2019 due to Modi’s leadership, after being stalled for decades by Congress.
In his speech, Adityanath made a direct appeal to voters in Maharashtra, warning that if the state were to fall into division again, communal tensions could escalate.
“If you are divided again, the puja for Lord Ganesh will be attacked, and lands here will be captured in the name of love and land jihad. The safety of women will be in jeopardy,” he said.
The Uttar Pradesh CM also defended his government’s tough stance on crime, emphasising the state’s actions to protect women and the poor. “Anyone who threatens the safety of daughters or dares to capture land belonging to the poor, ‘Yamraj’ will be ready to cut their tickets,” he warned, referring to a metaphor for severe punishment.
(With PTI inputs)