'From Batenge to Katenge': Yogi Adityanath calls for unity, cites Bangladesh unrest to warn against divisive forces

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Monday made a strong speech for national unity He cited the unrest in Bangladesh to warn of the consequences of divisions in society. “Batenge to Katenge (If we are divided, we will be destroyed),” CM TOP was warned at a public gathering in Agra.
“Nothing can be above the nation. And the nation will be strong only when we are united,” Adityanath said, adding: “Aap dekh rahe hain Bangladesh mein kya ho raha hai? Wo galatiyan yahan nahi honi chahiye. Batenge toh katenge! Ek rahenge to nek rahenge, surakshit rahenge aur samriddhi ki parakashtha ko pahuchenge (You see what is happening in Bangladesh. These mistakes should not be repeated here. If we are divided, we will be destroyed. If we are united, we will be safe and prosperous).”
Bangladesh has recently been the scene of massive anti-government protests, which forced Sheikh Hasina to resign as prime minister and flee to India. Even after the fall of the Hasina-led government, Bangladesh continued to witness violent incidents, including targeted attacks on the minority Hindu community.
On Sunday, Adityanath had accused the opposition to be more concerned about his vote bank than the fate of Hindus “While the opposition is quick to speak out on global issues, it has remained conspicuously silent on the persecution of Hindus and demolition of temples in Bangladesh. They see Palestine but turn a blind eye to Bangladesh because they fear losing their vote bank,” the UP chief minister said.
The BJP has accused the Congress and other opposition parties of remaining silent on the plight of Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh due to their vote politics. During the Budget session, BJP MPs targeted the Congress and alleged that Rahul Gandhi did not speak about the security of minorities in Bangladesh. They said that though Prime Minister Modi had asked Bangladesh caretaker chief minister Muhammad Yunus to ensure security of minorities, Rahul Gandhi did not speak about the security of Hindus and minorities in his message to Yunus.
“Adityanath wants to become Prime Minister”
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised Adityanath’s remarks on Bangladesh and said the UP chief minister wants to become prime minister.
Asked about the Indian Prime Minister’s remarks on strife-torn Bangladesh, Yadav said: “He (Adityanath) wants to become Prime Minister, but at least he should not play the role of Prime Minister. It is the job of the Prime Minister, of the Indian government, to decide what relations India wants to have with any country in the world.”
“This is not the first time that the chief minister is doing something like this. He has done it in the past. I hope Delhi-wale will make him understand that he should not interfere in the decisions taken by Delhi,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.
(With contributions from agencies)