Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday, 28 June launched a sharp counter-attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav over his pledge to develop Ayodhya into a 'peerless sacred city', accusing the SP of a documented history of opposing Hindu religious practices and questioning the party's credibility on the issue. The remarks came during the inauguration and foundation-stone-laying ceremony of 143 development projects worth ₹548 crore in Hathras.

What Triggered the Exchange

A day earlier, Akhilesh Yadav had posted on X (formerly Twitter) pledging that an SP government would transform Ayodhya into a city where 'devotees from across the world will experience the unparalleled essence of true spirituality.' The post drew an immediate and pointed rebuttal from the Chief Minister at the Hathras event.

'I am surprised; I was reading a statement by Samajwadi Party President Shri Akhilesh Yadav ji yesterday. He was saying that when his government comes to power, it will make Ayodhya a religious city. What religious city will you make? You should look at your own history. Your own people fired bullets at Ram devotees. The Samajwadi Party government ordered firing on them,' Yogi Adityanath said.

Yogi's Charges Against the SP Era

The Chief Minister alleged that during the previous SP government, celebrations of Krishna Janmashtami were stopped in police stations and jails, and restrictions were imposed on the Kanwar Yatra. He also claimed that public funds that could have gone to temple renovation were instead directed toward 'boundary walls of graveyards' under SP rule — a charge the SP has not yet formally responded to.

Referring to the renovation of more than 22 temples in Hathras under the current administration, Yogi contrasted the BJP government's record with what he described as the SP's indifference to Hindu religious infrastructure.

Ayodhya and the 'Treta Yuga' Claim

Crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ram devotees for Ayodhya's transformation, the Chief Minister said the city was 'now reminding us of the Treta Yuga.' He urged opposition leaders to 'have a glimpse of Ramlala once,' referring to the child deity enshrined at the Ram Temple complex in Ayodhya. Yogi maintained that Ayodhya's global religious prominence had been restored under BJP governance, particularly following the consecration of the Ram Temple.

Mathura, Kashi and the Broader Religious Agenda

Expanding his remarks, the Chief Minister also invoked Mathura and Vrindavan, challenging the opposition to 'speak openly' about honouring the birthplace of Lord Krishna. 'The birthplace of Shri Krishna should also be honoured,' he said. Yogi added that his government was consistently upgrading infrastructure and pilgrim facilities at Ayodhya, Mathura, and Kashi (Varanasi) to promote both spiritual tourism and regional development.

Political Barb on Appeasement

Concluding his remarks, Yogi levelled a direct charge of appeasement politics at the SP. 'You don't have any agenda other than kneeling down in front of the Mullahs and Maulvis. Don't do the work of sprinkling dust on development,' he said. The remarks signal an intensifying contest over the religious identity of Uttar Pradesh's key pilgrimage towns ahead of the next state election cycle. With the Ram Temple consecration already reshaping the political landscape in the state, Ayodhya's development narrative is emerging as a central fault line between the BJP and the SP.