Statue Of Mulayam Singh Yadav At Mahakumbh Creates Stir: 'Anti-Hindu, Anti-Sanatan'

A statue of Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, installed at a camp in the Maha Kumbh Mela area, has sparked controversy, with seers raising objections to it.

The statue, approximately two to three feet tall, was unveiled on Saturday at the camp in Sector 16, which was set up by the Mulayam Singh Yadav Smriti Seva Sansthan, according to the Leader of the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey.

The Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad criticised the installation, with its president, Mahant Ravindra Puri, stating that Mulayam Singh Yadav had consistently held "anti-Hindu and anti-Sanatan" views.

Samajwadi Party leader Mata Prasad Pandey, who inaugurated the statue of "Netaji" on Saturday, said the camp was established to promote Mulayam Singh Yadav's ideas and philosophy.

"Pilgrims and other people are welcome to visit the camp, have food, and stay there. A small statue of Mulayam Singh Yadav has been installed in a symbolic manner," Pandey told reporters.

He explained that the statue would be moved to the party office after the Maha Kumbh. When asked if SP chief Akhilesh Yadav would visit the Maha Kumbh Mela, Pandey responded, "I have not spoken to him in this regard." He added that he had taken a dip in the Sangam on Saturday and intended to do so again.

Meanwhile, Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Ravindra Puri commented that the installation of the statue seemed to remind seers of incidents in which Mulayam Singh Yadav had allegedly harmed members of their community.

"We have no objection to Mulayam Singh's statue. He has been our chief minister. But what message do they (SP members) want to convey by installing the statue at this time? Everyone knows what his role has been in the Ram temple movement. He has always been anti-Hindu, anti-Sanatan, and in favour of Muslims," Puri remarked.

Mahamandaleshwar Yati Narsinghanand of the Juna Akhara supported Puri's views, stating that the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad's criticism of the statue's installation was valid.

Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, a three-time Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and former Defence Minister, was elected as an MLA 10 times and an MP seven times, mostly representing Mainpuri and Azamgarh. He passed away on 10 October 2022.

(With PTI inputs)