WATCH | From controversial comments on SRK to Mother Teresa: 9 times UP CM-designate Yogi Adityanath was a rabble-rouser

The Bharatiya Janata Party which campaigned in Uttar Pradesh seeking votes for development has chosen controversial Hindutva leader and Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath as the state's chief minister. 

Adityanath has made news several times for his communally tinged remarks and is not unfamiliar with controversy. 

Here are some of his recent statements which raised eyebrows:

1. Setting a Hindutva agenda for BJP during UP campaign, stressing on Kairana 'exodus', 'love jihad' as key issues

Not only did the firebrand leader campaign for BJP, but several times he claimed that several Hindutva issues were part of BJP's poll agenda. Amidst hectic electioneering in UP, Adityanath sought to play the religious card, saying that the alleged exodus of Hindus from Kairana and 'love jihad' were important issues for the party. Read more

2. Pressing for uniform civil code, law to check rise in Muslim population

Terming the increase in Muslim's share in India's total population as a "dangerous trend", Adityanath batted for uniform civil code and law to check it in 2015, claiming that the higher fertility rate in the minority community would cause a "dangerous demographic imbalance". "The Census figures have sent out warning signals. Time has come that an effective law to control population be made and uniform civil code implemented to ensure national unity and integrity," Adityanath said in a statement. He termed the decline in Hindu's share, which dipped to below 80% of the total population, and rise in Muslim's a "dangerous trend". Read more

3. Hinting at Ram temple being a reality in future

In February 2017, when answering questions related to the Ram temple issue and Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi during a press conference, Adityanath said, "Ram Bhakts did whatever happened in Ayodhya" and whatever happens in the future will be done by them as well. 

Adityanath also attacked rivals SP and BSP for raising questions on BJP's secular credentials and said these parties do everything on the basis of caste and religion. BJP in its manifesto had said that the Ram Temple issue would be settled as per law and under provisions of the Constitution. Read more

In June 2016, during a debate, he had said, "It is the heartfelt desire of 'sarv samaj' that a grand temple of Lord Ram should be constructed at Ayodhya and it will definitely come up soon... This country will run according to the Constitution and not by any shariyat." Read more

4. Comparing situation in western UP to Kashmir in 1990s

In January 2017, as UP geared up for campaigning by political parties, Adityanath compared the situation in Kairana, western Uttar Pradesh, to that in Kashmir in 1990s, when Kashmiri Pandits had to flee the Valley, while the party defended its leaders over their controversial remarks during the poll campaign on the alleged exodus of Hindu families from Kairana.

"Western Uttar Pradesh is following in the footsteps of Kashmir. In 1990, Kashmir Pandits were forced to migrate in large numbers. Crime, corruption and 'goondaraj' are at their peak in Uttar Pradesh. Like there was exodus in Kashmir in 1990, similar is the situation in Kairana (in Shamli) and other districts where the failure to act shows that the criminals are emboldened....  Till when will the state government continue its vote bank politics at the cost of security in the state," the Gorakhpur MP said at election meetings in Loni and Sahibabad. Read more

5. PoK as part of India

In August 2016, Adityanath said that if the Pakistan dared to fight with India, its existence would be in danger and that Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would soon be a part of India. He also said that the Congress was responsible for the situation in Kashmir.  He said that if Sardar Patel had got the responsibility in place of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the issue would have not arisen. Read more

6. 'Mother Teresa was part of a conspiracy to convert Hindus to Christianity'

In June 2016, as an MP, he had said, "Mother Teresa was part of a conspiracy to convert Hindus to Christianity. Hindus were targeted in the name of doing service and then converted by her." He also said large-scale conversions to Christianity in the Northeast had led to a separatist movement in Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland.

The BJP MP added that Dalits were specifically chosen for conversion and that Hindus should not glorify Christianity. Read more

7. 'Those opposing Surya Namaskar should drown in sea'

Adityanath stoked a controversy with his remarks that those opposing 'surya namaskar' should "drown in the sea". With certain minority groups protesting against inclusion of 'Surya namaskar' exercise during the June 2015 International Yoga Day celebrations, the Gorakhpur MP said, "Sun is the source of life giving energy. Whoever thinks Sun is communal, I would like to humbly request them to drown themselves in the sea or stay in a dark cell."

"Sun God has never deprived anyone of its light based on caste, creed or religion. Despite that if they are calling sun communal, I feel amused at their mindset," the BJP leader had said while at a religious event in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency. Read more

8. Wanting cows to be declared 'Rashtra Mata'

The Hindu Yuva Vahini, an organisation led by the controversial yogi, launched a missed call subscription initiative in April 2015 in Aligarh to solicit support for the cause of "sanrakshan" (protection) and "samvardhan" (expansion) of the bovine clan. "This (the initiative for seeking 'Rashtra Mata' status for the cow is extremely important. Our initiative embodies the sentiment of every Indian," Adityanath had said.

"In India's Sanatan tradition, cow occupies a venerable place. The cow clan is like the spinal cord of Hindu religion because of the role it plays in sustaining the agrarian economy," he said. The BJP lawmaker said since it was not possible to secure such a status for cow across the world, "we want it to happen at least in India". Read more

9. Comparing Shah Rukh Khan with Hafiz Saeed

In 2015, when the intolerance debate had bee raging on, Adityanath had compared Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan with 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

Adityanath had tweeted, "Shah Rukh Khan and terrorist Hafiz Saeed speak the same language." He also said Khan would be on streets if people did not watch his films. He later retracted his statements. Read more