Batenge toh katenge: CM Yogi’s unity pitch on UP bypoll eve

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 26

Ahead of Assembly bypolls in 10 segments of Uttar Pradesh, CM Yogi Adityanath on Monday urged voters to stay united, cautioning them on the situation in Bangladesh and warning them against making the mistakes made in Bangladesh.

“Nothing is greater than the nation and the nation will strengthen only when we stay one, stay united…Jab hum ek rahenge, nek rahenge. Batenge toh katenge (we will prosper if we stay united. If we are disunited, we will get killed)…You are watching what is going on in Bangladesh. Those mistakes should not be repeated here,” he said.

The BJP leader added: “Ek rahenge toh nek rahenge aur surakshit rahenge (Our safety lies in our unity). We have to work to achieve developed India initiative. We have to shed colonial legacy, respect soldiers, advance unity and integrity, not allow anyone to spread anarchy in society, and stay cautious of forces seeking to divide us in the name of caste, language, region and other issues.”

The CM was addressing a public gathering at the Taj Mahal Metro Station in Agra, where he unveiled the statue of the freedom fighter Rashtraveer Durgadas Rathore.

Terming “national unity” of paramount importance, Yogi said, “Division weakens, unity elevates.” He urged people to “avoid Bangladesh’s mistake” and said while many succumbed to Mughal and British subjugation, Rashtraveer Durgadas Rathore stood out.

“Aurangzeb had ties with Agra, where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the great hero of Hindavi Swarajya, defied his power. Shivaji boldly declared that Aurangzeb would struggle like a rat but would never conquer Hindustan. Maharaja Jaswant Singh led the resistance in Rajasthan, with Rashtraveer Durgadas Rathore as his key commander,” he said.

Despite Aurangzeb’s repeated attempts, he couldn’t conquer this land, Yogi added. “How could any foreign invader succeed where brave nationalists like Rashtraveer Durgadas Rathore stood firm? But Aurangzeb, being wicked and cunning, resorted to deceit. He made a treaty with Maharaja Dashrath Singh, promising no harm to Jodhpur and lured him by claiming that Afghans were about to invade India. Through trickery, he captured and killed him,” said Yogi, seeking voter consolidation on bypoll eve. Bypolls are to be held in 10 UP Assembly seats.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi reacted to Yogi’s statement saying: “Those who make hate filled speeches are against Muslims are today talking about the unity and integrity of the country.” SP chief Akhilesh Yadav wrote on X said: “The job of responsible people is to dispel fear, not to spread fear. If these are someone’s personal views, they are wrong and if these are remarks of the CM’s party, then they are worse. In this atmosphere of fear under BJP rule, where is the double engine hiding? Disgraceful statement!”