Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 6 (HBTV): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asserted that people of all religions are safe in the state, emphasising his role as a Yogi who wishes for the well-being of all.

In an interview with ANI, the Chief Minister said that if Hindus are safe, then Muslims are also safe in Uttar Pradesh.

Highlighting the tolerant nature of Hindus, he remarked that a Muslim family would feel secure living among a hundred Hindu families. However, he questioned whether the same sense of security would apply to Hindu families in a Muslim-majority setting.

'A Muslim family is the safest among a hundred Hindu families. They will have the freedom to practice all their religious deeds. But can 50 Hindus be safe among 100 Muslim families? No. Bangladesh is an example. Before this, Pakistan was an example. What happened in Afghanistan? If there is smoke or someone is being hit, we should be careful before we get hit. That is what needs to be taken care of,' he said, adding that he treats everyone equally.

CM Yogi reiterated that Muslims in the state are safe and noted that communal riots have ceased since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2017.

'In Uttar Pradesh, Muslims are the safest. If Hindus are safe, then they are also safe. If there were riots here in UP before 2017, if Hindu shops were burning, then Muslim shops were also burning. If Hindu houses were burning, then Muslim houses were also burning. And after 2017, the riots stopped,' he said.

'I am an ordinary citizen, a citizen of Uttar Pradesh. And I am a Yogi who wishes for everyone's happiness. I believe in everyone's support and development,' he added.

Describing Sanatan Dharma as the most ancient religion in the world, Yogi Adityanath said there are no historical examples of Hindu rulers establishing dominance over others through force.

'Sanatan Dharma is the most ancient religion and culture in the world. You can guess from its name. Sanatan Dharma followers have not converted others to their faith. But what have they received in return? What did they gain in exchange? There is no example anywhere in the world where Hindu rulers, using their own strength, have established dominion over others. Such instances do not exist. While everyone has this mind-set — "this belongs to me, and that belongs to someone else" — which is a product of narrow and limited intellect, in contrast, for Sanatan Dharma followers, the whole world is considered a family, guided by this universal feeling,' he said.

Addressing law and order concerns during Ram Navami and Eid, he said, 'We sit with the administration from time to time, and we have already prepared an SOP for this. Uttar Pradesh is the first state that, according to the instructions of the Supreme Court, has controlled noise coming from outside its territory or has had it removed and controlled it through this communication.'

Referring to last year’s violence during Ram Navami in West Bengal, the Chief Minister said, 'If we can do it, then why can't it be done in Bengal?'

On the incident involving tarpaulin used to cover a mosque during Holi celebrations, CM Yogi clarified that there were strict instructions not to throw colours at the mosque and stressed that playing with colours does not harm anyone.

'If you are playing with colours, it does not harm anyone's existence. You tell me. It is not like that; there are rallies during Muharram. Doesn't the shadow of their flag fall on any Hindu house near the temple? Does it make the Hindu house impure? These are strict instructions not to put anything that is not coloured. But even then, if it has fallen, then the administration is cleaning it and repainting it,' he said.

(ANI)