To achieve this, Yogi has taken several decisions that reinforce his Hindutva agenda. One such decision involved instructing vendors and eateries along the Kanwar pilgrimage route to display their nameplates. Although the Supreme Court has put this order on hold, the message has already resonated with the Hindu community.

In late July, the state government introduced a bill to amend the anti-conversion law, making the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, even more stringent. The UP assembly passed the amendment on July 30, reaffirming its commitment to combating what right-wing Hindu groups, including BJP leaders, refer to as “love jihad”—a conspiracy theory suggesting that Muslim men are attempting to convert Hindu women by luring them into marriage.

Additionally, Yogi’s intervention prevented the demolition of two Hindu-majority colonies in Lucknow—Pant Nagar and Indraprastha Nagar—where residents had been concerned after the Irrigation Department marked their homes as being within a floodplain zone.

Calculated response

Yogi Adityanath’s direct involvement in the management of the Milkipur and Katehari seats is seen as a calculated response to the opposition’s challenge to the BJP’s Hindutva agenda, particularly in the wake of the party’s recent electoral losses. By spearheading the campaign in these critical seats, Yogi aims to counter the opposition’s narrative and reassert the BJP’s commitment to Hindutva.

Moreover, by rallying from Ayodhya—a place of immense spiritual and political significance—the CM is working to raise awareness among Dalits and backward classes across the state about what he describes as the opposition’s divisive tactics. His speeches have frequently highlighted the development Ayodhya has witnessed under BJP rule, contrasting it with what he terms as superficial respect offered by the opposition.

Hindutva as the core message

His actions have been translated into words as CM’s speeches have consistently focused on the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh, particularly the Dalit community, and the alleged indifference of opposition parties towards this issue. Yogi has underscored that, regardless of electoral outcomes, the BJP’s commitment to its core values—namely Hindutva—remains unwavering.

By foregrounding the suffering of Dalit Hindus in Bangladesh, Yogi Adityanath is sending a clear message that caste divisions could jeopardize the security and unity of the Hindu community. His repeated emphasis on the fact that 90% of the victims of these atrocities are Dalits aims to foster a sense of solidarity among Hindus that transcends caste.

In his appeal to the Hindu electorate, Yogi has argued that the opposition’s silence on the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh is due to the fractured nature of the Hindu vote bank. By focusing on caste-based divisions, parties like the SP and Congress are, according to Yogi, exploiting these divisions for their own gain, rather than advocating for the broader interests of the Hindu community.

The ongoing by-election campaign, therefore, is not just a battle for two assembly seats but a larger effort by CM Yogi Adityanath to consolidate the Hindu vote bank ahead of future electoral challenges. His approach seeks to unify the Hindu community, emphasizing that their collective strength lies in overcoming caste-based divisions.
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Courtesy: Money Control.