New Delhi, June 28: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that identity of the nation cannot be based on the Taj Mahal. Yogi Adityanath said this while speaking to a leading TV channel. The ‘Taj Mahal’ statement of the UP CM comes at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been continuously attempting to formulate a parallel history based on ideology of its parent group – Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Also Read - India's Covid Vaccine Latest News: Phase-3 Trial of Covaxin to Begin in UP's Lucknow, Gorakhpur From October

Regarding the ‘controversial moves’, the CM while talking to the TV channel said that his tenure will see many similar moves by him which might seem controversial. Similarly, on people who consider him as one of the influencers in the Ram Mandir issue, he said he was honoured that people considered him to be important enough to take decisions regarding the issue. Also Read - Uttar Pradesh News: International Flights to Start From Kushinagar Airport by Diwali, Announces CM Yogi

In the same tone, he said that people did not require his permission to bring in stones for construction of the Ram Mandir. He also urged and applauded the Court’s order to settle the issue out of court. Speaking at the interview he said, “Until and unless the two factions come together to discuss the issue, how can anyone expect a resolution?” Also Read - Udit Narayan Sings 'Mitwa' For UP CM Yogi Adityanath During 'Film City' Meeting, Video Goes Viral

Also in this connection, the CM meeting with LK Advani, senior BJP leader, also implicated in the riots and demolition of Babri Masjid case, he questioned what was wrong in meeting with someone who is going to the court and straightforwardly defended this move.

He reportedly strongly believed that the two factions in question must be ready to arrive at a solution and hence must discuss the issue at hand. Regarding his position as one of the brand ambassador and hardcore advocate of Hindutva, he said contrary to what many wish to portray, ‘Hindutva is not in opposition to idea of development.’ He said that the idea of Hindutva also does not isolate people and proclaimed it as most secular. Using the BJP tagline, ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas’ he said it is the ideology of Hindutva, in a way stating that BJP stands for Hinduism in itself.

When asked about the banning of illegal slaughterhouses in Uttar Pradesh, he said the move was not aimed to harass the Muslim community. He also stated that there have been no incidences of violence, rioting or clashed in his state during these 100 days of his tenure.

In regard to the issue of ‘Love-Jihad’, he said he is not against consensual inter-faith marriages. He also said that his government is not a discriminatory one and indeed if any group is found to have criminally, they will be taken to task. On the issue of dissolving the WAQF board, the CM said that the move was not an anti-Muslim move, but an anti-corruption one. He hailed the Anti Romeo squad for ‘bringing in peace’ to the state.

He also stated that while him being chosen as the CM did not irk his party members, there was huge opposition from other parties. In case of Saharanpur clashes, he said Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) should have not visited the area and accused his rivals of conspiring against him.