Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav sparked controversy with his comments on Diwali celebrations, drawing parallels with Christmas festivities across the world.
While addressing a gathering, Yadav said, “I don’t want to give a suggestion. But I will give one suggestion in the name of Lord Ram. Across the world, all cities get illuminated during Christmas, and that goes on for months. We should learn from them. Why do we have to spend money on lamps and candles and put so much thought into it? What can we expect from this government; it should be removed. We will make sure that there are more beautiful lights.”
His remarks drew sharp reactions from several BJP leaders and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).
National spokesperson Vinod Bansal took to X to slam Yadav, saying, “Just listen, this former Chief Minister of UP is praising Christmas on the occasion of Diwali. The rows of diyas have burned his heart so much that he is preaching to 1 billion Hindus, saying ‘Don’t waste money on diyas and candles, learn from Christmas.'”
Bansal accused Yadav of glorifying foreign traditions over Indian culture. “The so-called messiah of jihadis and conversion gangs, who calls himself a Yadav, seems to love Christians more than Hindus. He glorifies foreign festivals more than indigenous ones,” he said.
He further added, “When Christianity didn’t even exist, Diwali was already being celebrated with rituals and traditions. Now, Hindu society is being told to learn from Christians! On the sacred land of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna, illegal religious conversions have flourished under the protection of such leaders who filled their cabinets with criminals and extremists.”
He went on to add, “For him, the foreign festival of Christmas, which is still two months away, seems to have already arrived. But the Diwali that is just two days away – and the diyas made by our potter brothers – seem to bother the PDA’s hypocrites. Have some shame, Tipu! This jealousy over the brightness of Ayodhya and the happiness of Hindus is not right. Maybe that’s why people don’t call their party Samajwadi Party but Asamajwadi Party (anti-social party)!”
Joining the attack, Madhya Pradesh cabinet minister Vishwas Sarang also lashed out at Yadav, questioning his comments on Diwali. “How can a person named Akhilesh say such things? I think he should rather be called Antony or Akbar. I am astonished that someone can oppose Diwali worship and the lighting of lamps,” Sarang said.
He alleged that “Akhilesh Yadav and his family seem to have converted their religion – this should be investigated.” The minister further remarked, “A family that ordered firing on Ram devotees will obviously have a problem with Ram devotees. Akhilesh should answer – will he not perform worship on Diwali? Will he not light lamps during Govardhan Puja?”
Calling Yadav’s comments “shameful”, Sarang added, “Akhilesh, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, is pointing fingers at the lamps made by the hard-working Prajapati community. This is an insult to the artisans who bring light to every household during Diwali.”
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