Yogi Adityanath slams UDF, LDF for not enacting laws to check

Uttar Pradesh ChiefMinister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday raised the 'love jihad'issue in poll-bound Kerala, slamming successive LDF and UDFgovernments for not enacting any legislation to check itdespite ''strong court observation''.

Though the Kerala High Court had made observationsagainst 'forceful' religious conversion under the guise oflove in 2009, the subsequent state governments were'sleeping', he said, kicking off the BJP's campaign for theassembly polls in the state, likely by April-May.

He also alleged that the governments headed by the CPI(M) and the Congress in the state indulged in corruptionactivities and had not done anything for the people.

''In 2009, the Kerala High Court had said that Love Jihadwas prevalent here. However, the governments here did not takeany steps to counter that but instead were taking steps infavour of it,''Adityanath said.

Inaugurating the state-wide ''Vijay Yatra'' led by BJPKerala president K Surendran, he said that in Uttar Pradeshhis government took stern action to deal with ''love jihad'' andmade laws to control it, apparently referring to religiousfreedom laws to stop conversion through marriage or by anyother fraudulent means.

'Love Jihad' is a term used by right wing activists torefer to an alleged campaign of Muslims forcing Hindu girls toconvert in the guise of love.

''The court had said that love jihad would turn the stateinto an Islamic state. But the subsequent governments here arenot governing for the safety and security of the state or thecountry. They did not take any steps to counter that. We needto be more careful,'' he said.

Observing that there were indications of 'forceful''religious conversions under the guise of ''love'' in Kerala, thestate high court on December9, 2009 had suggested thegovernment to consider enacting a law to prohibit such''deceptive'' acts.

''Under the pretext of love, there cannot be anycompulsive, deceptive conversion,'' the court had said.

The UP CM also said Kerala needs BJP now and it wouldbring prosperity to the southern state and provide welfarewithout any discrimination.

Slamming the Pinaryi Vijayan government on theSabarimala issue, the BJP leader accused the CPI(M)-led LeftDemocratic Front of having worked against the sentiments ofthe devotees.

But in UP, under the leadership of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, the foundation stone was laid for theconstruction of Lord Rama temple, he said.

''The LDF govtis against Hindus and the faithful and theSabarimala issue is an example of it,'' he said.

He also criticised the state government for 'mishandling'of theCOVID-19 situation.

Uttar Pradesh, which is the largest populated state with24 crore people, has presently only around 2,000 active casesbecause the state government truthfully followed allinstructions from the Centre on ways to tackle the virus, heclaimed.

''Why has the Kerala governmentfailed in controlling theCOVID situation? Earlier Kerala CM used to make fun of UP butnow the whole world is laughing at Kerala as the COVIDmanagement is a complete failure,'' he said.

The youthof the southern state were forced to move toother places in search of jobs, while in UP in the last fouryears four lakh youth have been given employment, he claimed.

But the Kerala government was not interested inworkingfor the people and not implementing the projects of the uniongovernment, he said, adding it needs the Centre's money butnot the project or the name of Modi.

''They work only for the vikas of CPI(M) cadre, unlike theBJP government which works for people of all sections of thesociety,'' Adityanath said.

He also described both the LDF and UDF as symbols ofcorruption.

Union Minister, V Muraleedharan, BJP state president KSurendran, former Mizoram Governor, Kummanam Rajasekharan andother senior state leaders were among those who attended theinauguration of the Vijay Yatra.

The 15-day-Vijay Yatra, covering all majorconstituencies in 14 districts of the state, is seen as theofficial launch of the BJP's poll campaign.

Various union ministers and BJP's popular leaders andstar campaigners at the national level are expected to jointhe yatra in coming days.

Union Minister Amit Shah is expected to inaugurate thefinale of the yatra at the state capital on March 7, partysources said.