Aligarh – On the occasion of the third “Hindu Gaurav Diwas,” marking the death anniversary of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched a scathing attack on the opposition. In a press conference, Pradhan criticized the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and their allies, stating that their fear of a new law is “natural” because their parties are “full of criminals.”
Pradhan drew a sharp contrast between Kalyan Singh’s ethical stand and the opposition’s actions. He recalled how Kalyan Singh resigned as Chief Minister rather than order police to fire on “Ram devotees” during the Ram Mandir movement, while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal refused to step down despite being jailed on corruption charges. Pradhan questioned the opposition’s morality, describing Kalyan Singh not just as a leader but as an “ideal and a ritual.”
Other prominent leaders, including senior BJP leader Uma Bharti, Kalraj Mishra, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, State BJP President Bhupendra Chaudhary, and Rajveer Singh, also paid tribute to Kalyan Singh, hailing him as an inspiration for nationalism and good governance.
Pradhan’s Offensive Stance on the Opposition
Pradhan commented on a new law recently introduced in the joint parliamentary committee, which mandates that any Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or minister must resign within 30 days of being arrested. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been in power for 11 years and will remain so for the next decade, yet he has brought a law that requires any PM, CM, or minister to resign within 30 days of arrest,” Pradhan said. He pointed out that Kalyan Singh paid a price in 1991 for refusing to fire on Ram devotees, and his government was dismissed by the Congress-led central government, even though his act was not a crime but a matter of national pride.
“The Congress’s ‘prince’ said yesterday that Modi is bringing a medieval black law. Your fear is natural because your party has criminals,” Pradhan said, directly addressing the opposition. He questioned whether Kejriwal went to jail for a cause like Uma Bharti or resigned for the sake of nationalism like “Babuji” (Kalyan Singh). “No, he was jailed for corruption, and he still did not resign,” Pradhan said.
Remembering Kalyan Singh’s Ideals
Pradhan hailed Kalyan Singh as a visionary leader. “Kalyan Singh was not just a person or a leader; he was a thought and an ideal,” he said. Pradhan shared his experience working with him in the Lok Sabha in 2004, where he witnessed a blend of nationalism and harmony in Singh’s personality.
He credited Kalyan Singh with establishing good governance (“suraj”) in Uttar Pradesh in the 1990s and stated that CM Yogi Adityanath is now carrying forward that same legacy. “The Ram Janmabhoomi movement would not have been so successful without his contribution,” Pradhan added, asserting that the current governments at the Centre and in UP are truly honoring him by following his ideals.
Uma Bharti Calls for Name Changes, Praises Yogi
Uma Bharti spoke at the event, calling on CM Yogi to expedite the renaming of Shahjahanpur. “Change the name of Shahjahanpur in a couple of days. Try to erase all memories of the era of slavery,” she said. She criticized Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav for his stance on name changes, saying, “Only a person with national pride will understand the importance of a name.” She praised CM Yogi for bringing an end to the “nexus of corrupt and criminal elements” that plagued UP during previous governments.
Kalyan Singh’s Legacy and Calls for Bharat Ratna
Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya credited Kalyan Singh with establishing the first BJP government in Uttar Pradesh and demanded the Bharat Ratna for him. He also hinted at changing Aligarh’s name to “Harigarh,” following the recent name change of Jalalabad to “Parshuram.”
Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak praised Kalyan Singh, stating that his name is taken with reverence across India for his lifelong dedication to “Sanatan Dharma.” State BJP President Bhupendra Chaudhary and BJP leader Rajveer Singh also lauded Kalyan Singh as a true inspiration for nationalism and good governance.
