Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday attacked the Opposition while responding to the controversy surrounding Swami Avimukteshwaranand, asserting that no individual is above the law and that constitutional propriety must be upheld by all.Speaking in the UP Assembly during a discussion on the Governor’s address during the Budget session, Yogi referred to the centuries-old tradition of the Shankaracharya institution, saying that India has a ‘sacred lineage’ established by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya, who founded four peeths — Jyotish Peeth in north, Sringeri in south, Jagannath Puri in east and Dwarka in west — each associated with one of the four Vedas.“Har vyakti shankaracharya nahi likh sakta. Har vyakti peeth ke acharya ke roop mein jaake jahan tahan vatavaran kharab nahi kar sakta. Un maryadaon ka palan sabko karna hoga (Not everyone can call himself a Shankaracharya. Nor can anyone assume the role of a peeth’s acharya and create unrest at will. The dignity and discipline of these traditions must be maintained),” he said.In an apparent reference to the row over Swami Avimukteshwaranand denied entry on a palki at the recently concluded Magh Mela in Prayagraj, the CM highlighted crowd management concerns. He said that when 4.5 crore devotees gather, allowing “unauthorised entry” through exit gates could create stampede-like situations and endanger lives.“A responsible and restrained person cannot behave in such a manner. We believe in the rule of law and know how to enforce it. Law is equal for all — there is no separate law for me. Even the chief minister’s post is not above the law,” he asserted. The CM questioned the Opposition’s defence of the seer. “If he was indeed a Shankaracharya, why was there a lathicharge during the previous SP govt? Why was an FIR lodged? You speak of morality,” he remarked. Seers, including Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati (then associated with Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati), were lathicharged in Varanasi in Sept 2015.Yogi accused the Opposition parties of glorifying “anti-national elements” while disrespecting national heroes and cultural symbols. He alleged that certain parties supported events linked to Ghazi and questioned their ideological stance. Invoking the legacy of Maharaja Suheldev, he said that lessons should be drawn from the king’s valour in confronting invaders. “You glorify those who worked against the nation and insult national heroes,” the CM said, without naming any individual or party.The CM slammed the Opposition for opposing the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. He claimed that 2.88 crore people did not submit forms during the exercise. Of these, he said, 46.23 lakh were deceased, 1.39 crore permanently shifted, 25.47 lakh were duplicate entries and around 80 lakh were absent.Yogi criticised the conduct of the Samajwadi Party during the Governor’s address, calling it an insult not only to the constitutional head of the state but also to “matrashakti” (womanhood).Invoking Maharishi Ved Vyasa, whom he described as the foremost exponent of Sanatan Dharma, the CM said the sage described a mother as the ultimate source of protection and affection. “Your behaviour during the Governor’s address was not appropriate, and yet you speak of Sanatan,” he said.He reiterated that the govt adopted zero-tolerance policy against crime from Day 1. “Criminals are criminals. Whoever commits a crime will face the law,” he said.
