Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued a strong warning to the Waqf Board on Friday, saying that those coming to the Maha Kumbh with the intention of "claiming land" would face consequences.
Speaking at an Aaj Tak event, Adityanath stated, “Anyone who respects Indian traditions is welcome. Many people had ancestors who were forced to convert to Islam but still take pride in Indian traditions.”
He continued, “If such people come to take a dip in the Ganga, there is no issue. But if anyone comes with the aim of claiming land, they may face consequences.”
Adityanath's comments came after Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, president of the All India Muslim Jammat (AIMJ), claimed that the land where preparations for the Maha Kumbh 2025 were being made belonged to the Waqf Board, and that Muslims were being banned from entering.
Barelvi posted on X, “The land where Kumbh preparations are happening is Waqf land – 54 bighas. Muslims have shown tolerance and did not object, but Akhada Parishad and some Babas are banning Muslims from entering. This narrow-mindedness must stop, and we must show a bigger heart like Muslims.”
Yogi Adityanath responded by assuring that there would be no “discrimination of any kind” during the Maha Kumbh, which begins on January 13. However, he firmly stated that his government would "reclaim every inch of land that had been taken under the pretext of Waqf."
"The Kumbh has been a symbol of India's heritage for thousands of years and will continue here. The Waqf Board is not a board of heritage, but a board of land mafias," he added.
The Maha Kumbh, the largest spiritual gathering in the world, is celebrated every 12 years, and a large turnout of devotees is expected in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26 for the Mahakumbh 2025.
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