Prayagraj: A controversy sparked off after a statue of Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav was erected at a camp in the Maha Kumbh Mela.
Several seers objected to it.
The two to three feet tall statue was inaugurated on Saturday at the camp in Sector 16 set up by the Mulayam Singh Yadav Smriti Seva Sansthan, according to reports. This didn’t go down well with Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad and its president Mahant Ravindra Puri reportedly said Mulayam Singh Yadav had always been ‘anti-Hindu and anti-Sanatan.’
Meanwhile, SP leader Mata Prasad Pandey, who inaugurated the statue, said that Yadav was their leader, and the camp was organised to spread his thoughts and ideas. “Pilgrims and other people are welcomed to go to the camp, have food, and stay there. A small statue of Mulayam Singh Yadav has been installed in a symbolic manner,” the SP leader had said.
The idol is likely to be restored to the party office after the Maha Kumbh.
‘Statue installed to show seers how Yadav killed people from the community’
Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Puri reportedly said Mulayam Singh’s statue was installed to show seers and sadhus that he “killed” people from the community.
“We have no objection to Mulayam Singh’s statue. He has been our chief minister. But what message do they (SP people) want to give by installing the statue at this time. Everyone knows what his contribution has been in the Ram temple movement. He has always been anti-Hindu, anti-Sanatan and in favour of Muslims,”Puri said, as quoted by NDTV.
Juna Akhara’s Mahamandaleshwar Yati Narsinghanand supported Puri statement. Mulayam Singh Yadav had served as defence minister and as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh thrice. He died on October 10, 2022.
