Samajwadi Party MP Sanatan Pandey on Friday, 10 July sharply rebuked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over remarks the CM made in Ayodhya, in which Yogi accused previous state governments of permitting 'namaz' to be offered at the sacred Hanuman Garhi temple. Pandey hit back by pointing to a viral video from a recent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) roadshow in Lucknow, in which a performer dressed as Lord Hanuman was seen dancing before BJP national president Nitin Nabin.

What CM Yogi Said in Ayodhya

Speaking during his first visit to Ayodhya since the Ram Temple donation theft controversy came to light, CM Yogi addressed a public gathering and trained his fire on past administrations. 'Pilgrims visiting Ayodhya were unable to receive the blessings of the Saryu because there were no proper arrangements, and filth had become its identity. Those who talk about faith today even had namaz offered at our sacred Hanuman Garhi. Just think about it. Imagine this: Could anyone ever recite the Hanuman Chalisa inside the Jama Masjid? Could any government, the Samajwadi Party, or the Congress make that happen? If not, then why was the sin of having namaz offered on the steps of Hanuman Garhi allowed? Who was responsible for this?' Yogi said.

The CM was apparently referring to an incident from November 2003, when an attempt was allegedly made to offer prayers outside Hanuman Garhi. According to reports, local police did not grant permission for the prayers at that time.

SP's Counter: The Hanuman Performer at BJP Roadshow

SP MP Sanatan Pandey rejected Yogi's framing and pointed to what he described as a contradiction within the BJP's own ranks. 'These people are against Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman. When BJP National President visited Lucknow, Lord Hanuman was being made to dance in front of him. Who are these RSS and BJP leaders to claim they understand Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman?' Pandey said.

Pandey escalated his criticism further, accusing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP of instrumentalising religious sentiment. 'People belonging to the RSS and BJP have never truly respected people's faith. Their work is to spread lies, collect donations in the name of faith and then indulge in thefts in the name of donations. If they know so much about Hanuman Chalisa and the character of Lord Hanuman, they should not have allowed such acts during the national president's visit,' he said.

SP Invokes 'Sanatan Equals Samajwad' Argument

Pandey also rallied behind SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's recent formulation that 'Sanatan is equivalent to Samajwad', arguing that the country belongs to all communities under the umbrella of Sanatan Dharma. 'He is absolutely correct. This country does not belong to only Hindus or Muslims. It is the land of Sanatan Dharma, which has always worked for unity and social harmony,' Pandey said. He further asserted that Sanatan Dharma has historically worked to dismantle caste barriers and foster coexistence, adding that 'among them, the Brahmin community has played a significant role.'

Other SP Voices Join the Criticism

SP MP Awadhesh Prasad also took aim at Yogi, questioning the Chief Minister's priorities. 'He did not speak about development, roads, or hospitals. His concern seems to be that the image and identity he has built as a leader should not weaken. That is why Chief Minister Yogi makes such baseless statements,' Prasad said.

The exchange marks a fresh flashpoint in the ongoing political rivalry between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, with both sides now contesting not just policy but the very language of religious identity ahead of future electoral cycles. How the BJP responds to the viral performer video — and whether it distances itself from the optics — will be closely watched.