Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Sanatan Pandey on Friday made a verbal attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Chief Minister had accused the previous state governments of allowing ‘Namaz’ to be offered at the Hanumangarhi temple. Pandey also raised questions over the viral video in which an artiste dressed as Hanuman was seen performing during BJP national president Nitin Naveen’s recent road show in Lucknow.

Addressing a gathering on his visit to Ayodhya, CM Yogi said, “The pilgrims coming to Ayodhya were not able to take the blessings of Saryu because there were no proper arrangements there and filth had become its identity. Those who talk about faith today, they also offered ‘Namaz’ in our holy Hanumangarhi. Just think about it.

Imagine. Can one ever recite Hanuman Chalisa inside Jama Masjid? Can any government, SP or Congress get this done? If not, then why was the sin of offering ‘Namaz’ allowed on the steps of Hanuman Garhi? Who was responsible for this?”

The Chief Minister was probably referring to an incident in November 2003, when an attempt was allegedly made to offer ‘Namaz’ outside ‘Hanuman Garhi’. However, the local police did not give permission. Responding to Chief Minister Yogi’s statement, SP MP Sanatan Pandey mentioned the performance of an artist dressed as Hanuman during Nitin Naveen’s visit.

Speaking to IANS, he said, “These people are against Lord Ram and Hanuman. When the BJP national president came to Lucknow, Hanuman was being made to dance in front of him. Who are these RSS and BJP leaders who claim that they understand Lord Ram and Hanuman?”

Pandey said, “People associated with RSS and BJP have never really respected the faith of the people. Their job is to spread lies, collect donations in the name of faith and then steal in the name of donations.

If he has so much knowledge about Hanuman Chalisa and the character of Ram devotee Hanuman, then he should not have allowed such actions to happen during the visit of the National President.”

Supporting SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s statement that ‘Sanatan is equal to socialism’, Sanatan Pandey said that he (Akhilesh Yadav) is absolutely right. This country does not belong only to Hindus or Muslims.

This is the land of Sanatan Dharma, which has always worked for unity and social harmony. He emphasized that ‘Sanatan Dharma’ has worked to eliminate caste discrimination and promote the spirit of living together.

The SP leader further said that if anyone is truly socialist, then they are people who believe in Sanatan Dharma and the Brahmin community has played an important role in them too.

Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad also criticized CM Yogi’s statement, saying, “He did not talk about development, roads or hospitals. It seems that he is only worried that the image and identity he has created as a leader should not get weakened. That is why Chief Minister Yogi makes such baseless statements.”