CM Yogi Targets SP Over Kanwar Yatra Stance
Synopsis
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath accused the Samajwadi Party of previously blocking the Kanwar Yatra and harbouring hostility toward saffron attire and Hindu religious symbols such as conch shells and temple bells.
Key Takeaways
CM Yogi Adityanath alleged on 26 July 2026 that the Samajwadi Party once vowed to stop the Kanwar Yatra .
He claimed SP leaders warned that Shiva devotees marching would cause riots.
Yogi alleged SP did not permit conch shells or temple bells to be sounded during its tenure.
He described SP's attitude toward saffron clothing as a 'janmajaat dushmani' — congenital enmity.
The BJP has governed Uttar Pradesh since 2017 , positioning itself as a facilitator of Hindu religious events.
A formal response from Akhilesh Yadav or SP leadership is awaited.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday, 26 July 2026, sharply attacked the Samajwadi Party, accusing it of historically obstructing the Kanwar Yatra and expressing hostility toward Hindu religious symbols including saffron attire, conch shells, and temple bells.
Context
Speaking in what appears to be a public address, CM Yogi recalled the SP's alleged stance during its years in power, stating: 'Pehle Samajwadi Party kehti thi, Kanwar Yatra nahi hone denge' — 'Earlier, the Samajwadi Party used to say, we will not allow the Kanwar Yatra to happen.' He alleged that SP leaders warned that Shiva devotees marching would trigger riots.
He further alleged that the party did not permit the blowing of conch shells (shankh) or the ringing of temple bells (ghanta) during its tenure. On saffron clothing, he said the SP appeared to carry a 'congenital enmity' — 'janmajaat dushmani' — toward the colour.
Policy Backdrop
The Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage held during the Hindu month of Shravan, in which millions of devotees carry sacred Ganga water to Shiva temples across Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states. The procession involves large crowds moving through urban and rural routes, historically requiring significant administrative coordination.
The BJP government under Yogi Adityanath, which came to power in 2017 ending a five-year SP tenure, has positioned itself as a facilitator of Hindu religious events. Since 2017, the state administration has consistently highlighted expanded arrangements for the Kanwar Yatra, including route management, security deployment, and infrastructure support.
Stakeholders and Impact
The remarks are directed at two overlapping audiences: Shiva devotees who participate in the Kanwar Yatra and form a significant voter bloc across western and central Uttar Pradesh, and Samajwadi Party supporters who contest the BJP's narrative of religious obstruction. Akhilesh Yadav, SP's national president and former Chief Minister, has not yet responded publicly to the specific allegations as of the time of publication.
Saffron, as a colour associated with both Hindu religious practice and the BJP's political identity, has repeatedly featured in UP's political discourse. CM Yogi's remarks seek to frame SP's opposition to saffron symbolism as ideological rather than administrative.
What's Next
With the Shravan season approaching, the political temperature around the Kanwar Yatra is expected to rise further. A formal response from Samajwadi Party leadership rebutting or contextualising the allegations would be the immediate next development to watch. The broader contest over religious administration in Uttar Pradesh is likely to remain a central theme ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
A period that historically amplifies Hindu cultural sentiment across Uttar Pradesh. By framing the SP's past governance as actively hostile to Shiva devotees and saffron symbolism, the BJP seeks to reinforce its positioning as the natural custodian of Hindu religious practice. The allegations about conch shells and bells — while unverified — serve a rhetorical function: they personalise abstract governance failures into vivid, relatable images for a devotional voter base. This pattern of BJP-SP contestation over religious administration has been a defining axis of UP politics since 2017 and shows no sign of softening.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CM Yogi say about Samajwadi Party and Kanwar Yatra?
CM Yogi Adityanath alleged that the Samajwadi Party, during its time in power, vowed to prevent the Kanwar Yatra from taking place, warning that Shiva devotees marching would lead to riots.
What is the Kanwar Yatra?
The Kanwar Yatra is an annual Hindu pilgrimage during the month of Shravan in which devotees carry sacred Ganga water to Shiva temples. It involves millions of participants across Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states.
Did SP really ban conch shells and temple bells in Uttar Pradesh?
CM Yogi Adityanath made this allegation in his speech, but these specific claims about past restrictions on conch shells and bells have not been independently verified from the public record.
What is the BJP-SP rivalry over saffron about?
Saffron is both a Hindu religious colour and a symbol associated with the BJP. CM Yogi alleged that the Samajwadi Party holds a deep-seated hostility toward saffron attire, framing it as ideological opposition to Hindu religious identity.
How has Yogi Adityanath's government handled the Kanwar Yatra?
Since coming to power in 2017, the BJP government under CM Yogi has consistently highlighted expanded administrative arrangements for the Kanwar Yatra, including route management, security, and infrastructure, contrasting itself with the previous SP administration.
