Seers rally behind Yogi's 'Jinnah' jibe at Congress, SP
Synopsis
A day after UP CM Yogi Adityanath branded Congress and SP as 'worshippers of Jinnah', a string of Hindu seers rallied publicly in his defence — amplifying the charge and raising the political temperature in Uttar Pradesh well before the next electoral cycle.
Key Takeaways
UP CM Yogi Adityanath labelled the Congress and Samajwadi Party 'worshippers of Jinnah' at a public event in Shamli district .
Multiple Hindu saints, including Mahant Sita Ram Das of Ayodhya's Saket Bhawan Temple , publicly backed the remark on 18 July .
Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das Maharaj directly challenged SP chief Akhilesh Yadav over his stance on Sanatan Dharma.
Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya alleged — without verified evidence — that the SP had engaged in 'appeasement politics' and supported jihadis.
Neither the Congress nor the SP had issued a formal rebuttal at the time of reporting.
Several Hindu saints on Saturday, 18 July threw their weight behind Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after he labelled the Indian National Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) as 'worshippers of Jinnah' — accusing both opposition parties of stoking religious divisions and lacking faith in Sanatan Dharma. The remarks, made a day earlier at a public event in Shamli district, have triggered a sharp political exchange in the state.
What CM Yogi Said
Speaking at the Shamli event, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said: 'There can be no alternative to development. Those who follow Jinnah's ideology will divide society whenever they get an opportunity, in the name of caste or region. Their goal is to spread anarchy, weaken the security fabric of women and businessmen.'
The statement directly targeted the Congress and the SP, framing their politics as antithetical to national unity — a charge both parties are yet to formally respond to in detail.
Seers Voice Support
Mahant Sita Ram Das of Ayodhya's Saket Bhawan Temple backed the Chief Minister without reservation. 'Whatever Yogi Adityanath ji has said is absolutely correct. This is not the Samajwadi Party but the 'Namazwadi Party'. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party are worshippers of Jinnah and, in doing so, they have divided the country. Today, they are attempting to further create divisions among religions,' he said.
He added: 'I would appeal to all followers of Hinduism to destroy such anti-national (parties), otherwise they will burn the country.'
Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das Maharaj extended the critique to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav directly, alleging: 'Be it the Congress or Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav — they are linked with Jinnah because these are the very people who question Lord Ram, the Ram Mandir, and Sanatan Dharma, and make absurd remarks.'
He further challenged Yadav, saying: 'If they are truly devotees of Krishna and belong to the 'Yaduvanshi' lineage, then why does Akhilesh Yadav fall silent when a Maulana claims that Lord Krishna used to offer Namaz? And if Akhilesh Yadav is such a staunch follower of Sanatan Dharma, let him join us and recite the Hanuman Chalisa at the Jama Masjid.'
Allegations Against the Samajwadi Party
Tapasvi Chhawani Peethadhishwar Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya alleged that the SP had 'tarnished the very concept of socialism', saying it had descended into what he called 'Namaz-wad' — a politics centred on religious appeasement. He alleged that the party had 'spoken of withdrawing cases against terrorists' and engaged in 'one-sided actions, such as providing funds to jihadis' — claims that remain unverified and were attributed solely to the seer.
Other Voices in Support
Karauli Shankar Mahadev, Mahamandaleshwar of the Shri Panchayati Akhada Naya Udasin Nirvan, defended the Chief Minister's choice of words, saying he 'must have thought it through and assessed the situation before making the statement.' He added: 'I believe he must have said it for a valid reason... If Hindus themselves become victims in their own country, what could be a greater irony than that? In fact, the steps he takes are even more commendable. He should take even stricter measures.'
The chorus of support from religious figures signals a broader mobilisation around Yogi Adityanath's political framing ahead of what is expected to be a contested electoral cycle in Uttar Pradesh. Neither the Congress nor the SP had issued a detailed rebuttal at the time of reporting.
Point of View
Deployed here with religious amplification built in. The swift seer endorsements suggest coordination, not coincidence. What is notable is the escalation in language from the saints themselves, some of whom made allegations — including links to terrorism financing — that go well beyond what the Chief Minister said. Mainstream coverage tends to treat such remarks as colour; the more consequential question is whether this framing will define the BJP's Uttar Pradesh narrative heading into the next assembly cycle, and whether the opposition has a credible counter-argument beyond outrage.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CM Yogi Adityanath say about Congress and SP?
At a public event in Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called the Congress and Samajwadi Party 'worshippers of Jinnah', accusing them of dividing society along caste and religious lines and having no faith in Sanatan Dharma. He made the remarks a day before Hindu seers publicly endorsed his position.
Why did Hindu seers support Yogi Adityanath's remark?
Several seers, including Mahant Sita Ram Das and Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das Maharaj, said the Chief Minister's characterisation was accurate, arguing that Congress and SP politics undermine Hindu religious identity and national unity. They extended the criticism to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav personally, questioning his commitment to Sanatan Dharma.
Who is Mahant Sita Ram Das and what did he say?
Mahant Sita Ram Das is a religious leader associated with Saket Bhawan Temple in Ayodhya. He said Yogi Adityanath's remarks were 'absolutely correct' and described the SP as the 'Namazwadi Party', alleging that both Congress and SP had divided the country by following what he called Jinnah's ideology.
What allegations did Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya make against SP?
Tapasvi Chhawani Peethadhishwar Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya alleged that the SP had abandoned socialism in favour of religious appeasement, and claimed — without presenting verified evidence — that the party had spoken of withdrawing cases against terrorists and provided funds to jihadis. These are the seer's personal allegations and have not been independently verified.
Has the Congress or SP responded to Yogi Adityanath's remarks?
Neither the Congress nor the Samajwadi Party had issued a detailed formal rebuttal at the time of reporting. The political exchange is expected to intensify as the remarks draw wider attention ahead of Uttar Pradesh's next electoral cycle.
