'Batenge To Katenge': CM Yogi Invokes Bangladesh To Call For National Unity

UP CM Yogi Adityanath made the remarks after unveiling a statue of Rashtraveer Durgadas Rathore in Agra on the occasion of Janmashtami.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday called for national unity, saying that there is nothing bigger than the nation.

While speaking at a Janmashtami event in Agra, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath invoked Bangladesh, saying, 'Batenge toh katenge' (if we divide, we will be cut). He warned that the mistakes made in Bangladesh should not be repeated in India.

 "Nothing can be above the nation. And the nation will be empowered only when we are united. 'Batenge to Katenge'. You are seeing what is happening in Bangladesh. Those mistakes should not be repeated here... 'Batenge to Katenge, Ek Rahenge to Nek Rahenge,'" CM Yogi told a public gathering on Monday.

The UP Chief Minister made the remarks after unveiling a statue of Rashtraveer Durgadas Rathore in Agra on the occasion of Janmashtami.

Rathore was a Rajput noble known for leading the resistance against Mughal attempts to annex the Marwar Kingdom in the 17th century.

Bangladesh saw massive anti-government protests earlier this month, leading to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government. The country continued to witness incidents of violence, including targetted attacks on the Hindu minority community, even after the fall of the Hasina-led government. 

The remark comes a day after the UP CM took a veiled dig at the opposition parties saying that they highlight the Palestine issue, but overlook Bangladesh.

He was referring to the issues of minorities in Bangladesh, where he said that "they are afraid to speak on the issue, since their vote bank will drift away."

"You must have seen that all of them are silent on the incident in Bangladesh because they are afraid that if they speak, their vote bank will drift away and the ground on which they are standing will start burning them. That's why they are silent as they cannot speak on this," CM Yogi said in Mathura on Sunday.

Yogi Wants To Become PM: Akhilesh

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav too jibe at CM Yogi Adityanath's remarks on Bangladesh and said he wants to become the prime minister but should not be already interfering in foreign affairs decisions that are taken by New Delhi.

"He (Adityanath) wants to become the prime minister but at least he should not play the role of prime minister. This is the job of the prime minister, the government of India to decide the relations India wants with which country of the world, Yadav said.

"This is not the first time that the chief minister has done something like this. He has done it in the past too. I hope 'Delhi-wale' will make him understand that he should not interfere in the decisions that are taken by Delhi," he added.