Asaduddin Owaisi Attacks UP CM Yogi Adityanath Over His Gorakhnath Temple Stay

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has attacked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his recent visit to the Gorakhnath temple where he performed some rituals. Dubbing Adityanath a “failed administrator”, Owaisi alleged that his visit to the temple in Gorakhpur, of which he is the chief priest, was at the cost of the state exchequer.

“Chief Minister’s office is a Constitutional post. Adityanath has failed as an administrator so far, and unfortunately Yogi Adityanath as a mahant is overshadowing,” he told reporters.

Adityanath recently stayed in Gorakhnath temple for five days to perform the rituals as the temple’s head priest. Owaisi said the act of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to leave his Lucknow office for five days is a “violation” of a Supreme Court order. “The Uttar Pradesh chief minister staying away from his Lucknow office with all security to perform (rituals) as a mahant for the five days is a violation of the recent Supreme Court order stating that public money cannot be used for religious purposes.

“So, the chief minister going there (Gorakhnath temple) and staying there for five days with all arrangements for his stay in place…whose money is being used? It is the public exchequer which is burdened with the Chief Minister’s stay of five days to perform his duties as the mahant,” Owaisi said.

The AIMIM chief clarified that he didn’t have any issues whatsoever with anyone performing his religious functions and duties. “There is a thin line separating the Constitutional duty and public beliefs. Unfortunately, the present UP CM has blurred that line. I would say that in the interest of propriety and in the interest of general public, the CM should not engage himself in any such activities which leads to the direct conflict with his Constitutional duties,” Owaisi said. (PTI)