Yogi Adityanath
Yogi Adityanath: You love him, hate him but will never ignore him. He is the shaven-headed, saffron-robed Hindu monk-turned-politician, Yogi Adityanath . A highly controversial but adorable figure. He is loved and loathed in equal measure. To his followers, he’s a holy man, a Hindu icon, a true leader ” savior of all Hindus”. But critics describe him as India’s most divisive politician who often uses his election rallies to whip up anti-Muslim hysteria.
Controversy
It may be true that Yogi Adityanath is known for his Hindutva ideology, which has led to several controversial statements. During his tenure as Chief Minister, he has strongly advocated for cow protection and has expressed support for a nationwide ban on cow slaughter.
He is strongly against inter faith marriages. Yogi Adityanath has always been wearing his ideology on his sleeve, bold and clear with no pretensions. There is another side of his personality also. He has been pivotal in shaping the fate of state.
The Legacy
Uttar Pradesh has maintained a dominant role within India. State has produced notable leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. But state’s name has been sullied in the last few decades by news of organised crimes, grabbing headlines nationwide. With the arrival of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh witnessed a significant shift in governance and development strategies.
Yogi Adityanath crafted his image as a “No Non-Sense CM” when it comes to statesmanship and the welfare of its people. His stringent measures against notorious gangsters earned him the reputation of the most powerful CM the state has ever witnessed. Yogi Adityanath’s tenure prioritised law and order, with a firm stance against criminal activities. Special task forces were set up to tackle organised crime, resulting in a noticeable decline in criminal incidents. The government emphasized women’s safety and welfare initiatives to create a more inclusive and secure society.
Early life
Ajay Singh Bisht, popularly known as “Yogi Adityanath”, was born on 5th June 1972 in the village of Panchur, in Pauri Garhwal Uttarakhand. His father Late Anand Singh Bisht was a forest ranger. He was the second born in the family, among four brothers and three sisters.
Despite the fact that Yogi Adityanath is CM, his family in Uttarakhand leads a very simple life. Infact his sister runs a tea stall to make her both ends meet. This is quite rare among Indian Politicians, who are famous for lavish lifestyle for themselves and their family members.
Political Career
He abandoned everything in 1990 to join the historic Ayodhya movement. Around this time Yogi became disciple of Mahant Avaidyanath , the chief of the Gorakhnath Math.
Mahant Avaidyanath was leading the Ayodhya Ram temple movement at that time. In 1994 he was declared successor of Mahant Avaidyanath. After death of Mahant Avaidyanath on 12 September 2014, Adityanath became Mahant or high priest of the Gorakhnath Math.
In the footsteps of his spiritual teacher Mahant Avaidyanath, he contested Lok Sabha election and at the age of 26 in 1998. Yogi Adityanath became the youngest MP. He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Gorakhpur for five consecutive terms from 1998 to 2017.
Indomitable streak
“Mafia Ko Mitti Mein Mila Denge”, were the words of Yogi Adityanath in the UP assembly when asked about his plans on countering mafia raj in Uttar Pradesh.Now we all know what were the events that followed. He is willing to take all actions, no holds barred, to establish good governance. He has always been living ascetic, disciplined life. Even his haters don’t doubt about him.
During his tenure in the 16th Lok Sabha, Yogi Adityanath had an attendance rate of 77 per cent and actively engaged in parliamentary proceedings. He raised 284 questions, participated in 56 debates, and introduced three private member Bills.
