Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday took a dip at Sangam in Prayagraj's Maha Kumbh. Akhilesh is also expected to visit the Samajwadi Party camp and then meet the monks and seers at the Maha Kumbh. 


The SP leader, after taking the dip at Maha Kumbh, said that he took 11 holy dips in the water and added that there is no place for divisive and negative politics.






"People come here with their personal faith. I took 11 holy dips. There is no place for divisive and negative politics... The day I took a dip at Haridwar - that day was a festival. Today, I got the opportunity to take a holy dip here... The people in govt shouldn't make this event a sports event... I have seen that older people who are coming from various places - there should have been the kind of management that nobody has to face any difficulty," Akhilesh said.


The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) had earlier took a jibe at the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief over taking a dip at Maha Kumbh, saying "Akhilesh and his party members will not thrown mud at Sanatan Dharm and its symbols."


BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla, while hitting out at Akhilesh, said, "We hope that after bathing in the Maha Kumbh, Akhilesh Yadav and his party members will not throw mud at Sanatan Dharm and its symbols."


"Sanatan Dharma is a tolerant religion that embraces everyone. And Maha Kumbh is a symbol of faith in Sanatan Dharm. Anyone can take a dip in the Ganga at the holy Sangam ghat during the Maha Kumbh... even if it is Akhilesh Yadav," Manish Shukla further said, taking a dig at the SP chief. 


Akhilesh's visit to Prayagraj comes days after UP CM Yogi Adityanath, along with his cabinet, took a dip in the sacred waters of the Triveni Sangam on Wednesday. CM Yogi also conducted the first meeting of the UP cabinet in the Maha Kumbh district. 


Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav extended his wishes for Republic Day. On his official X handle, Yadav wrote,


“Hearty congratulations and best wishes to everyone on the auspicious festival of Republic Day!” Akhilesh said in a post on X.


Meanwhile, diplomats from 73 countries, including the ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine, are coming in Prayagraj for the first time to take a dip in the Sangam during the ongoing Maha Kumbh on February 1. Mela Adhikari Vijay Kiran Anand has confirmed that the diplomats are coming on Saturday.