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CM Yogi Interview: In an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi at the Maha Kumbh, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath detailed his roadmap for the state and revealed his broader political philosophy, deeply rooted in Sanatan Dharma’s principles of inclusivity and integrity
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath during an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. (Image/Screenshot)
In an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath offered a comprehensive view of the massive spiritual gathering, political landscape, and his vision for India. Sitting in front of the holy confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, Yogi Adityanath delved into multiple critical aspects of governance, spirituality, and cultural significance.
Asserting that the Maha Kumbh 2025 stands as a testament to India’s spiritual heritage, the UP chief minister highlighted the event’s unprecedented scale. He anticipated that 40-45 crore devotees would participate in the 45-day congregation, transforming the gathering into a powerful symbol of national unity and cultural pride.
Beyond the religious spectacle, Yogi Adityanath revealed his broader political philosophy, deeply rooted in what he described as Sanatan Dharma’s principles of inclusivity and integrity. He discussed crucial topics ranging from economic development and welfare schemes to challenges like illegal immigration and the implementation of a uniform civil code.
In conversation with Network18, the CM also provided insights into his personal journey —from a mathematics student to a sanyasi and now a prominent political leader — reflecting his belief in service to the nation and commitment to cultural preservation.
Edited excerpts:
RAHUL JOSHI: Yogi ji, thank you very much for giving this exclusive interview to News18. We are in the Maha Kumbh area today. We are looking at the gathering. The event is grand, unparalleled and spectacular. I would like to know a little about it from you. What went into organising such a big event and what is your message to the world?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Rahul ji, firstly, I heartily welcome News18 and your team to the Maha Kumbh area. Whatever you are seeing in Prayagraj and Maha Kumbh Nagar is the concrete form of the vision of the respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India’s heritage should get its due respect. It is an example of how it is the responsibility of the government to respect the faith. The divine and grand Kumbh is a testament to this belief. Today’s generation is getting to know about the heritage of thousands of years and the older generation is taking pride in passing on India’s cultural heritage to its next generation so that they can protect it and take it forward in the same grand way. The images from the Maha Kumbh that you witness are the divine and grand form of the Sanatan Dharma. This is what Sanatana is known for. It is India’s tradition to organise such grand Kumbhs to uphold our cultural and spiritual legacy. Such events were started with this aim. This is the holy land of Prayagraj. Crores of devotees take a dip in the Triveni of Maa Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati in the presence of saints and get their share of punya (goodness).
RAHUL JOSHI: I have been to the Kumbh earlier as well. In 2019, you organised a grand Ardh Kumbh, and I came there too. But the kind of crowd I am seeing this time is usually what we witness on the Mauni Amavasya Snaan. But now there is such a crowd every day.
YOGI ADITYANATH: This gathering is a message of the unity of India. You are right. Usually, we would see huge crowds on Mauni Amavasya, but we are seeing similar numbers every day. In 2019, 4 crore devotees bathed in the Sangam on the day of Mauni Amavasya. This time, 4 crore devotees bathed in the Sangam on the day of Makar Sankranti itself. In the past 10 days, more than 10 crore devotees have taken a dip in the Sangam. Today, more than 2 crore devotees are in the Maha Kumbh area for the holy dip. This will go on till February 3. On Mauni Amavasya, we expect the crowds to multiply three to five times compared to 2019.
RAHUL JOSHI: Three to five times! What is the total footfall you expect?
YOGI ADITYANATH: In my estimate, the 45-day congregation at Maha Kumbh will see a footfall that will be equivalent to the third-largest population in the world…after India and China…in this temporary set-up. We expect 40-45 crore devotees will give the message of national unity through the holy dip at the Sangam.
RAHUL JOSHI: Congratulations on this great gathering! Where did you and your cabinet take a dip?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Right before us. The confluence of Yamuna ji and Maa Ganga is right here. There is also a belief about the invisible mother Saraswati, that the three meet at this spot. It is here that lakhs of devotees are taking a dip at this Sangam.
RAHUL JOSHI: You and your cabinet were seen laughing and splashing water on each other. Did it remind you of your childhood?
YOGI ADITYANATH: It was a wonderful moment. It cannot be expressed in words. These are unforgettable moments. We take pride in spreading the message of unity through Maha Kumbh to the people of Uttar Pradesh and the countrymen. Where we are standing, this is the Sangam area and there is a fort at the front. It has an Akshay Vat. In a first, we have made the Akshay Vat Corridor, where lakhs of devotees are visiting every day. There is also a shrine of Maa Saraswati; this form is visible, unlike the river. The Patalpuri Corridor is also built on it. The three corridors are in the fort. The fourth corridor is of Bade Hanumanji temple, with Lete Hanumanji, popularly known as Bade Hanumanji, and devotees can visit here.
RAHUL JOSHI: It is my good fortune to interview you in Prayagraj, where I grew up. Modiji came to Banaras and the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor was built. Kashi came on the global map. Similarly, the Ram Temple was built in Ayodhya and the Pran Pratishtha took place on January 22 last year. Today, the world is talking about Prayagraj owing to the Maha Kumbh. Do you think it will also become a centre of spiritual tourism in the coming times?
YOGI ADITYANATH: This strength of India was unfortunately not harnessed by the previous governments. The potential in the heritage of India and spiritual tourism was seen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. That is why under the leadership of Modi ji, Kashi got Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, 2019 had the Prayagraj Kumbh, and Ayodhya saw the construction of the divine and grand Maryada Purushottam Ram Temple at the Shri Ramjanmabhoomi. You can see a new Ayodhya now. Vindhyavasini Dham has a new, grand corridor and dham. Uttarakhand has Kedarnath Dham in Kedar Puri. Mahalok Dham at Mahakaal. These spots are attracting crores of devotees and showing the power of India’s spiritual tourism to the world. I have no hesitation in saying that until 8-10 years ago, Uttar Pradesh was in third place in terms of tourism, but today it is no. 1 because of this spiritual power. It has not only given new opportunities to the people here but has also played a major role in economic development. It has also given a new boost to the economy here.
RAHUL JOSHI: We have heard that Rs 7,500 crore was spent on organising this grand event. How has the Maha Kumbh given a boost to the economic activity here?
YOGI ADITYANATH: The expenditure of Rs 7,500 crore is not for the Maha Kumbh alone. The money has also gone towards boosting the connectivity of Prayagraj city, on highways, railway stations, and the airport. The most amount has been spent on the development of roads, overbridges, underpasses, flyovers, etc, for the city. The confluence of people at the Maha Kumbh over the 45 days will lead to a growth of Rs 2 lakh crore in the economy of Uttar Pradesh. UP and India will give a new economic principle to the world – whenever you recognise your strength, you will see this kind of growth.
RAHUL JOSHI: Rs 2 lakh crore is almost 10% of UP’s GDP.
YOGI ADITYANATH: The Maha Kumbh’s contribution to UP’s GDP will be 10%.
RAHUL JOSHI: We were talking about how the Maha Kumbh 2025 has been organised. Yesterday, I was on my way to Prayagraj from Mumbai, and there were about 90 people from the Young Presidents’ Organization on the flight. They were industrialists, travelling with their wives and children. They have such faith that they all said they wanted to take a dip in the Sangam. I have seen a lot of youngsters, as well as global tourists. How did you reach out to the youth, global tourists, and entrepreneurs?
YOGI ADITYANATH: The biggest thing in organising the Maha Kumbh is that India’s young generation is in abundance. The previous governments made it an event for senior citizens, but they did not provide facilities for that. The Kumbh Mela was synonymous with filth, stampede, and chaos.
As you can see for the first time, in 2019 as well as in 2025, it is the result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision that the Kumbh Mela can now be tied to cleanliness and security. And it is because of the grand arrangements that there is a confluence of modernity and spirituality. Hence, it is obvious that the youth will be a part of this. Be it an entrepreneur, a technocrat, a doctor, anyone who is connected to any progressive segment, they would want to come here. Like you saw the youngsters on the flight and during your reporting on the 13th and 14th, you must have observed that not just Indians, we have international visitors too. We don’t only have Hindus here, but also non-Hindus. Whoever has taken a dip in the Sangam has been full of praise. This Kumbh is a prime example of how these events can be organised in a grand manner with the touch of the divine.
RAHUL JOSHI: Your guru, Mahant Avaidyanath ji, was involved in the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement. Last year, the Ram temple was also inaugurated. This year’s Kumbh must be emotional for you.
YOGI ADITYANATH: It is my good fortune that January 2024 ended a wait of 500 years with the establishment of the Ram Temple. Ram Lalla is now in his rightful abode. I was present there as a sevak for visitors from home and abroad. I also have had the good fortune of organising the Kumbh in 2019 and the Maha Kumbh in 2025. So I am fortunate. There was also the Kumbh Mela in 2013 for which my revered gurudev was present; today, he is not here with us, but his blessings are with us. All those divine personalities who were present in 2013 but are no longer with us must be satisfied today and showering the event with their blessings. This new success story that Uttar Pradesh is writing is all because of the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister.
RAHUL JOSHI: Modi ji has a different approach to Sanatan Dharma. If you want to give a message to the world about Sanatan Dharma through Maha Kumbh, what will you say?
YOGI ADITYANATH: The Maha Kumbh propagates only one message. You must now be privy to it. There is no caste, creed, sect or gender discrimination. All people are able to bathe in the Sangam, there is no discrimination. No one knows who is next to them. The message of the Maha Kumbh is the message of unity and integrity, and this should go out into the world. If all the saints, devotees or even tourists, who are part of the Maha Kumbh, take forward the message of unity, then Sanatan Dharma will be strengthened and, if Sanatan Dharma is strong, then our country will be stronger.
RAHUL JOSHI: Mahant Avaidyanath ji said the Ram Janmabhoomi movement was to unite Hindus but the Mandal Commission divided Hindus into castes. Now that you’ve organised such a massive event, opposition leaders are saying this is the politicisation of a religious event. How do you see this?
YOGI ADITYANATH: I believe this, we believe this, Gorakshapeeth also believes, that the downtrodden and the underprivileged should get their rights. Dalits and those from the Backward Castes as well as underprivileged sections of society are getting their rights in independent India. But, dividing the society for your political interest, or in the name of caste, region, or language is nothing less than treason. If you try to come to power by dividing society and only to propagate family rule, the country will not accept this. We should not get divided, we have to make India strong. This is the strength of Sanatan, the strength of the country, the strength of all Indians.
RAHUL JOSHI: Opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav talk about caste census. What is your opinion on it? Are you in favour of a caste census or do you feel it is a dangerous move?
YOGI ADITYANATH: I believe that the poor, deprived, Dalits, and Backward Castes should get their rights and this is the responsibility of a sensitive government. And, it is the good fortune of the country that in the past decade, for the first time in independent India, every such person has experienced this under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Be it providing homes to the 4 crore poor people, constructing toilets for 12 crore poor, providing 10 crore LPG connections to them, free electricity to 4 crore poor people, or free ration to 80 crore people for the past five years – this has happened for the first time. Around 12 crore farmers are beneficiaries of the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. There was no discrimination in all these policies, and this has only been possible due to Modi ji’s leadership and welfare schemes with the vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. But, followers of Sanatan should be cautious of those trying to divide people on the lines of caste, creed, region, or religion.
RAHUL JOSHI: In the 2024 elections, the NDA’s slogan was “400 paar”. But, the opposition spoke about the Constitution being changed, which somehow struck a chord. And, if you take Uttar Pradesh, it was expected that the NDA would gain more than it did in 2019 but you only managed 33 seats. What do you think happened, where did you go wrong?
YOGI ADITYANATH: The INDI alliance, with the help of foreign funding, spread a lot of propaganda on the Constitution being changed, or spun a narrative about reservation being removed. They used social media platforms and digital media to promote this propaganda, but the public realised the truth of it only after the elections. The public has once again decided to teach the opposition a lesson. You saw what happened in Haryana and, no matter what happened in the Lok Sabha polls where the seats were equally divided, the BJP was successful in forming the government with a full majority in the assembly elections. In Maharashtra, they were successful back then, but after the assembly elections, the BJP and NDA formed a government with full majority. In UP bypolls, the BJP won seven out of nine seats, while the INDI aliance was reduced to two. Similar results have been seen elsewhere. Their lies stand exposed and the public knows what the reality is. People also know that those roaming around with a copy of the Constitution are the same who insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar, strangled the Constitution, and kept amending it for their political interests. They will not survive for long in Indian politics.
RAHUL JOSHI: So Yogi ji, if you take this matter forward, then what issues will you take to the people in the 2027 elections of Uttar Pradesh?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Our objective is very clear. Heritage, development, welfare schemes for the poor and instilling a sense of security among people are our top issues. Focusing on the 2027 polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the NDA will move ahead to achieve all this with the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (together with all, development for all). And we will again form the government in UP with a full majority.
RAHUL JOSHI: So, apart from the issue of law and order, what are the other issues?
YOGI ADITYANATH: As I said, there is legacy, there’s development, and welfare for every village, every poor, every farmer, every youth, and every woman. The government is doing its work by giving priority to the interests of all.
RAHUL JOSHI: How important will your allies be in Uttar Pradesh? I saw that you called everyone forward in the press conference. You also spoke about Rajbhar ji (Om Prakash Rajbhar).
YOGI ADITYANATH: All are part of the state cabinet, and hence, all members of the cabinet make decisions together. All of them came here (for the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj) as well. So, when we were told that a photograph of the cabinet at the Maha Kumbh Mela would be clicked, we said that the leaders of all our alliance parties would also come forward.
RAHUL JOSHI: So then it can be said that all are together?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Everyone is together. We will stay together in future as well.
RAHUL JOSHI: You talked about the great victory in Haryana and Maharashtra. It was a huge comeback and a very convincing win. The BJP saw a big victory in both places, especially in Maharashtra. In those days, you gave a slogan: “Batoge toh katoge”. So I wanted to know from where did you get this? How did you think of it? Please explain its meaning to us.
YOGI ADITYANATH: During the Haryana elections, I got the opportunity to go to Mathura. I stayed there for a night, and the next day I went to Agra to unveil the statue of Durgadas Rathore. In the medieval period, Durgadas Rathore was a very valiant general of the Jodhpur king. According to many, when Aurangzeb could not defeat Maharaja Jaswant Singh, the king of Jodhpur, he made a pact with him. Aurangzeb asked him to attack the Afghans and assured support.
So when Maharaja Jaswant Singh ji went to attack the Afghans, Aurangzeb, instead of helping him as assured, attacked the king from behind by deception. And Raja Jaswant Singh was martyred in that war. His son Ajit Singh was with him. The queen was also with him. When General Durgadas Rathore saw that after killing the Maharaja, Aurangzeb’s army was planning to kill the prince, he took Ajit and the queen and kept them in an ashram and later took them away.
When Prince Ajit Singh grew up, he was made the king of Jodhpur. Till the age of 91, Durgadas Rathore lived in Jodhpur. After that, he took sanyas and went to Ujjain. He breathed his last there.
All those who associate with the story, and who belong to the Teli caste wanted to install a statue in Agra, but some communities were opposing it. We called both the communities and talked to them. In the end, a compromise was reached. Then when the statue was installed, I said: “If you’ll be divided, you will be destroyed. If you remain united, you will remain worthier.”
And I am thankful that the honourable Prime Minister has given the message of connecting the entire country through “Ek rahoge toh safe rahoge”, and I believe that the message of Maha Kumbh is also that the country will remain undivided only through unity. If the country remains united, the country will remain safe. Sanatan Dharma will remain safe. Every caste, every opinion, every sect, every creed will also remain safe. And if there is this security, prosperity will come automatically.
RAHUL JOSHI: I wanted to understand one thing from you that in your first term, you solved a very big problem of law and order, for which the public gave you a huge victory again. What are your major achievements in this term?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Whatever we said, we have done it. It was said earlier too: “Modi hai toh mumkin hai” (Everything is possible under the governance of PM Modi). So under the PM’s leadership, and with his guidance and blessings, the Bharatiya Janata Party has done what it said. And I think that when there is similarity in the conduct and thought of a person, then the blessings of the people are with him.
The public needs a safe environment. The youth need employment. Farmers need opportunities to advance their prosperity. Sisters and daughters need security. There should be a system for every businessman to do business in a safe environment. This is what the double-engine government is doing in Uttar Pradesh, and BJP will get its benefits.
RAHUL JOSHI: I have a small personal question. People saw you as an administrator. In your first term, they saw you as a tough administrator, whatever you determined, you did it. How have you evolved as an administrator from the first term to the second term?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Look, I am not an administrator, I am a common citizen. I am a common sadhu. I follow the routine and the traditions of saints and yogis. I follow it strictly for myself. So when it is applied to me, then naturally Uttar Pradesh gets its benefit. If I do not implement it myself, then Uttar Pradesh will be deprived of all these. But if I strictly implement it on myself, then UP gets its benefit.
RAHUL JOSHI: Yogi ji, you just talked about the spectacular victories in Haryana and Maharashtra. Now there are elections in Delhi. You have entered the field, and as soon as you came, you tried to unite the society by talking about Hindutva. What do you think this time? Will the BJP form the government after 26 years?
YOGI ADITYANATH: You are in Prayagraj, right? So here, there is a confluence of Maa Ganga, Maa Yamuna and Maa Saraswati in Prayagraj. See the difference between the Yamuna here and the Yamuna in Delhi. You can also take a sip of water in the Yamuna here; you can also bathe. Is this possible in Delhi?
And this is what I want to say. The Aam Aadmi Party has cheated the country, cheated the people of Delhi, cheated the people of the capital. You can see it there. Yamuna ji has been turned into a dirty drain. Not only are the people of Delhi suffering its ill effects, but the people of Mathura, Vrindavan, and Agra are also suffering.
Later, when Yamuna tributaries – Chambal, Ken, Betwa – and the holy water of other rivers meet Yamuna, then a divine river flows. There are treatment plants installed for it. The results of the water harvesting done by us at various places are visible. Ganga and Yamuna can be seen so clear and uninterrupted in Uttar Pradesh. Otherwise, the kind of situation these people (AAP) have created… this is not just about a river, they have betrayed the Indian culture in the same way.
RAHUL JOSHI: Kejriwal ji has said that he wants to send his education minister here so that he can give some tips to the Yogi government on how to bring changes in education…
YOGI ADITYANATH: If their education minister comes to UP, he will learn something from UP before leaving. They should in fact study UP. Our education budget is as much as the budget of the whole of Delhi. Their budget is Rs 78,000-80,000 crore and UP has a budget of more than Rs 1,00,000 crore for education alone. So what will they teach us by coming here? They will definitely learn from here. Also, like I took the holy dip in this confluence of Maa Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati at Sangam with my cabinet, they should also come with the entire cabinet. It would be good if they also take a dip once.
RAHUL JOSHI: Yogi ji, Kejriwal ji started the politics of freebies a long time ago. He gave free electricity, free water, etc. So this time, do you think this politics of freebies will win? Or will your Hindutva win?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Look, Hindutva is not a political issue for us. We are providing free security. And this is the right of every citizen. We are providing welfare schemes to whoever needs them. A double-engine government is providing it. The treasury belongs to the people of the state, it is not mine, it is not personal to me. I have no right to give it away. Whatever is the right of the people, it should be available to them. Every effort is being made to make it available to them.
RAHUL JOSHI: Yogi ji, I have a question, which is a larger question, with a bird’s-eye view. Do you worry about this revdi culture, this freebie culture? Several elections have been held in the last few years and now only freebies are being handed out. And this has happened in states ruled by your party as well, like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka. You give freebies and the election results are positive too. Maharashtra has Ladki Bahin scheme too. Are you worried about this? You want to make UP a trillion-dollar economy. This kind of freebie culture will also slow down growth. Money will be spent less on infrastructure. What is your view on this?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Look, I believe that we have to work with a long-term vision. This has to be performance-based. There is nothing wrong in implementing welfare schemes, but if this is performance-based, then people will have faith in their own efforts. No one can reach the peak of prosperity through inaction. Bear in mind, the crisis that the world is facing today, in such a time, during a pandemic like Covid-19, India stands alone in the world as an economy. The world is faltering. The reason is that India has prioritised action and has given the message of action. We will have to keep up that hard work; otherwise, it does not take long to falter.
RAHUL JOSHI: So what you are saying is that what the central government is doing, those welfare schemes will continue, and that is not revdi culture or freebies?
YOGI ADITYANATH: I am saying those are welfare schemes in which what is given depends on the performance. It is performance-based. And I think that will be beneficial for everyone. It will benefit the public as well as the country.
RAHUL JOSHI: I want to ask a question on Sambhal, in a slightly different way. Mohan Bhagwat ji said that we should not search for a temple under every mosque. How do you see this in the context of Sambhal?
YOGI ADITYANATH: See, this was not related to Sambhal. You must have noticed that afterwards, Organiser and Panchjanya also clearly stated that this is a journey from Somnath to Sambhal to find the truth. What Sarsanghchalak ji has said is a message for those people who are unnecessarily trying to raise every issue forcibly to gain cheap publicity. We have to look at those issues that are based on truth and can be taken forward through dialogue in a cordial environment. Creating an unnecessary controversy on every issue is not appropriate in today’s time. But yes, there is no need to back down from the truth.
RAHUL JOSHI: So your work will continue in Sambhal, in Mathura for temples…
YOGI ADITYANATH: What I am saying is the truth of Sambhal, Mathura, and Kashi should come out.
RAHUL JOSHI: The opposition repeatedly says that Yogi ji always targets Muslims. We have already discussed this, but they say earlier it was Azam Khan and now it is the Barq family. Earlier cases were filed for goat theft, now cases are filed for power theft. What is your response to this?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Look, we do not target anyone and there is no need for that either. But those who spoil the harmony of society and consider it their birthright and feel entitled to carry out unlawful activities… it is the moral duty of the government to bring them under the ambit of law and the government is performing its duty.
RAHUL JOSHI: There are lakhs of Bangladeshis in India today, you raised this issue in Delhi also. Because of this, riots are taking place. By preparing Aadhaar cards, they are also getting the benefits of welfare schemes here. So what do you see as the solution to this problem?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Look, if something is a threat to security, is changing the religious demography, and knowing that this was the reason for the partition of the country, we have to become alert and cautious about it in time. The example of Delhi is in front of you. Okhla is an industrial town in Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi could not set up any industry in the last 10 years. New Okhla or NOIDA has become the biggest investment destination of the country. They invested in settling Bangladeshi infiltrators and Rohingyas there. We invested in bringing industrial units and modern-age technology. Data centres are being built, robotic centres are being built, and many new AI centres are being established there. Lakhs of youths are getting employment opportunities from there. This is the difference between the two: the double-engine government of Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh, and the government of Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi.
For their political interests, they are turning Bangladeshi infiltrators into voters, discouraging investment, are unable to provide employment, have completely stopped development plans. But, on the other hand, the Uttar Pradesh government has succeeded in establishing the state as the biggest destination for investment. We have succeeded in establishing UP as the biggest hub of spiritual tourism in the country. We have succeeded in providing work to the youth of UP by generating the highest employment in the country. And in UP, we have succeeded in creating a model of infrastructure for the country.
RAHUL JOSHI: Yogi ji, you have called the Waqf Board a mafia board. You have said that we will take back every inch of the government land that they have taken over. How will this happen?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Look, this has happened, and it is happening. I had to say this when their claims started coming in for Ayodhya, Kashi, Prayagraj, Sambhal, for every place, that “this is Waqf land”. So then I started going through the old revenue records and after that, the things that came out are before us. We were able to see that their claims were wrong. Then I had to say that don’t turn the Waqf Board into a mafia board. Otherwise, the UP mafia task force will start taking action on this. We have amended the rules of the UP Waqf Board and have made arrangements to check the revenue records and take action accordingly. All their claims are proving to be wrong.
RAHUL JOSHI: Will Uniform Civil Code be implemented in UP and by when?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Seeing how UP operates, do you still doubt the existence of Uniform Civil Code?
RAHUL JOSHI: So you are saying it has already been implemented?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Yes, it has already been implemented.
RAHUL JOSHI: In your last term, you got the moniker of Bulldozer Baba. People had the hope that whenever they didn’t get justice, they would get justice in this way and they lovingly called you Bulldozer Baba. Then came the Supreme Court guidelines. The opposition is saying that now “bulldozer terror and jungle raj” will end in UP. So what will Bulldozer Baba do now?
YOGI ADITYANATH: Jungle raj existed under previous governments in UP. The rule that has come in UP after 2017 is Ram Rajya. Security for everyone, respect for everyone, connecting everyone with welfare schemes, giving everyone their rights, all this has happened in UP. After the order of the honourable Supreme Court, our work has become easier. And you must have seen during the hearing that Uttar Pradesh was the only state that has taken its actions forward by following all the guidelines of the honourable Supreme Court. And even now, our actions against the anti-social elements are progressing uninterruptedly while following due process and within the ambit of the law.
RAHUL JOSHI: Yogi ji, you have pledged to make UP a $1-trillion economy. By when will this happen? Some say 2027, you have said 2030. So, when will this happen?
YOGI ADITYANATH: We have set a deadline of 2029. By 2029, UP will be a $1-trillion economy. An action plan has been made for that and it is being implemented. In the last seven to eight years, we have succeeded in more than doubling our economy despite the Covid-19 pandemic for over three years. I believe that we will achieve the $1 trillion dream by 2029.
RAHUL JOSHI: Yogi ji, at one point of time, Mayawati used to say that Uttar Pradesh is a very big state, 80 MPs go to Lok Sabha from here. After the delimitation exercise, if there are supposedly 850 seats, then UP will have about 150 seats. What is your opinion? Mayawati would talk about dividing the state into four parts because of its sheer size. How do you see this?
YOGI ADITYANATH: See, UP is UP in itself and this is its potential. I think UP should achieve its goals by staying united and I think that is its strength. That is its identity and its respect.
RAHUL JOSHI: I try to ask you a few personal questions every time and this time too will do the same. You were doing BSc in Mathematics from Garhwal University. After that, you were doing MSc. After that, you suddenly took sanyas. How did this happen?
YOGI ADITYANATH: This is the destiny from previous births. This is neither in my control nor in yours. Whatever is written by God, will happen. And the same happened with me.
RAHUL JOSHI: So how did you get drawn towards this?
YOGI ADITYANATH: See, I have always been in favour of imparting practical knowledge. And I went into the company of revered saints and saw different sects and cults. Later, when I felt that the Nath community was a community associated with practical yoga, I came at that time and took initiation from Mahant Avaidyanath Ji Maharaj and then I became a part of this entire tradition.
RAHUL JOSHI: Your guru’s guru, Digvijaynath ji, was also in the Lok Sabha; he was also an MP. Mahant Avaidyanath ji was also in politics. You became an MP at the age of 26 and now you are the chief minister of the largest state. How do you see religion and politics? Is there any contradiction in this?
YOGI ADITYANATH: If you believe, it is Gangajal; if you don’t, it is just flowing water. If you believe, then religion is a way of life which is a flow of virtue, duty, and moral values on which the life of an individual and society is sustained.
Can any politics turn away from duty? Can it turn away from virtue and moral values? If politics is balanced, we will achieve prosperity. If not, downfall is guaranteed.
RAHUL JOSHI: Yogi ji, when you came to Gorakhpur, you were just 21 years old. At that time, Gorakhpur was in the grip of the mafia. There were two or three big mafia dons; murders used to happen every day. When you came there, did you learn anything from it as to how you would move forward? What is your thinking today?
YOGI ADITYANATH: I came to Gorakhpur in 1992-93. The situation was very bad. There were three-four big mafias and they had their own gangs. Every businessman, every entrepreneur of Gorakhpur used to pay Goonda Tax. Every doctor used to pay Goonda Tax. For the next 2-3 years, I also experienced everything; how the system was completely paralysed. No government, no one had any say in front of the mafia.
But after 1996, when I felt that sitting idle would not work — because no one spoke in front of them, the entire machinery was silent in front of them — I had to get down into the field myself. I used to speak against them, I used to fight, there were protests and before becoming an MP, we almost controlled the mafia raj in Gorakhpur.
We held meetings with every businessman, every doctor, and every entrepreneur. I told them that no Goonda Tax will be paid now, and if they do, they will invite trouble for themselves. I am happy that every businessman, every person of Gorakhpur believed in it. Today, there is complete peace and security. When I became the chief minister, I was successful in implementing [the strategy] across the state.
RAHUL JOSHI: It was a very dangerous job at that time. Fighting them was a big deal.
YOGI ADITYANATH: Those mafias then had the protection of the government. But now I think that struggle became the bedrock of the fight against mafias in the state.
RAHUL JOSHI: Yogi ji, you left your family at a very young age. People do not know much about your family. Whatever little we know; you have a sister, she runs a tea stall. One of your brothers is probably a Subedar, I may be wrong. One of your brothers is a journalist, one works in Gorakhnath College. So you grew up in such an ordinary environment. Today you are the chief minister of the state. Do you get to talk to them? Do you miss them?
YOGI ADITYANATH: It is my good fortune that my biological family never interfered in any of my religious or political activities with any agenda. They don’t even come to me. I am sure none of them have seen the Gorakhnath Math yet. All those who are coming here [Maha Kumbh] are like family to me. I enjoy serving these people and I believe that whatever virtue they earn, all that will be received by them [biological family] as well.
RAHUL JOSHI: One last question. After coming into politics, people become power-hungry. There is nepotism, they think about their family, they start thinking about their children. How does a yogi stay away from this greed for power? And if you were not the chief minister today, what would Yogi Adityanath be doing?
YOGI ADITYANATH: I am doing my work as a yogi and will continue to do so. My only mission is to strengthen Sanatan Dharma. Working for the strength of India, my whole life is at the feet of Mother India and dedicated to Sanatan Dharma. In this lies the welfare of the country and the society.
RAHUL JOSHI: Yogi ji, thank you very much. I myself grew up in Prayagraj, so it is my good fortune that today I am interviewing you for the first time in Prayagraj, that too during the holy festival of Maha Kumbh. Thank you very much on behalf of our audience.
YOGI ADITYANATH: Rahul ji, you have come here, I welcome you and your entire team in Maha Kumbh city. And this beautiful view that you are seeing in front, this is of Triveni, Sangam coast. I think that the crores of viewers of News18 will get an opportunity to see the scene and see its grandeur and be amazed by it.
- Location :
Prayagraj, India
