Adityanath finds secularism a threat to recognition of Indian traditions

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has found the secular character of India to be the biggest threat to the country’s ages old traditions from getting global recognition.

Speaking at the launch of an e-book of ‘Global Encyclopedia of the Ramayana’ prepared by Ayodhya Research Institute, the chief minister said on Saturday the country needs to come out of this mentality and make “pure, healthy” efforts towards this.

'रामायण विश्व महाकोश कर्टेन रेजर' पुस्तक का विमोचन एवं कार्यशाला के उद्घाटन कार्यक्रम में… https://t.co/QWa8wNb9TM

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) March 6, 2021

In his speech, Adityanath recalled his visit to the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia where a Buddhist guide had told him that the origins of Buddhism can be traced to Hinduism. But, he said, saying such things in India would “endanger the secularism of many people.”

“This word ‘secularism’ is the biggest threat in the propagation of India’s age-old traditions and giving them world recognition. We have to come out of this and make pure and healthy efforts in a big manner,” reports quoted the chief minister as saying.

He blamed “parochialism and constricted mentality” of some people for limiting the country from claiming its justifiable pride in history. Adityanath said people are being misguided by some for their own benefits and they the country will not spare them.

“People who are creating false propaganda about India for money will face the heat,” said the chief minister said.

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He also hailed the Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, for giving the best life lessons and “help us envision a better India.” He said some people still raise question on existence of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, but they cannot deny historical facts.

Pointing to the doubts casted by historians over the birth of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, he said, “this mentality has kept India away from its glory for centuries.”

Regarding the ancient Takshila University in modern-day Pakistan, he said the institution was named after the son of ‘Bharat’, the brother whom Lord Ram had made the ruler there by expanding the country’s boundaries. He said Pakistan was a part of India before 1947 but today is a separate political entity, and the university there now stands forgotten.

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