Adityanath kickstarts UP civic polls campaign from Ayodhya

Ayodhya: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath kickstarted on Tuesday the campaign for civic polls in the state from the temple town of Ayodhya where he sought to convince the electorate that a win for the BJP would ensure holistic development.

He alleged that public money meant for the development was misused in previous regimes led by other parties.

"Among the seven sacred cities, Ayodhya is the first. And it is for the first time that Ayodhya is readying for the mayoral elections. Voting is going to take place in Ayodhya in the first phase and I congratulate you that the first election rally is also being held here," said the priest-turned- politician in a speech that ended with the shout of 'Jai Shri Ram'.

Stressing on the importance of urban local bodies elections, he said that almost 30 per cent of the population of Uttar Pradesh lived in the 653 urban local bodies of the state. Even the remaining 70 per cent banks on the urban local bodies for many of their requirements.

Hence, we have to ensure the holistic development of the urban local bodies, he said.

"The funds coming from the Centre and those released by the state government must be utilised for the welfare of the public...I have come here to appeal to you that if the BJP constitutes the board, we can fulfil the road map of holistic development that we have drawn for the state," he said.

New Delhi: Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Tuesday attacked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his reported remarks that "secularism was the biggest lie" that has been told post-independence and for comparing the Modi government with "Ram Rajya".

He said Adityanath comparing the Modi regime with "Ram Rajya", a term meant to describe an ideal and welfare state, is a "truth" which perhaps is the "biggest lie".

"Yogi Adityanath says 'secularism is a lie' and compares Modi's government to 'Ram Rajya'. This 'Truth' is perhaps the biggest lie," Sibal said on Twitter. Speaking at an event organised by the Dainik Jagran group in Raipur, Adityanath reportedly said, "I believe that the word secular is the biggest lie since independence. Those that have given birth to this lie and those that use it should apologise to the people and this country."