'No place for divisive politics': Akhilesh Yadav takes holy dip in Maha Kumbh

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday took a holy dip in sacred Sangam on the occasion of Maha Kumbh, the event which he said "should not be used as space for negative or divisive politics".


Uttar Pradesh's former CM took a "pledge for people's welfare", saying that "everyone should keep moving forward with tolerance".

"People come here with their faith. I took 11 holy dips. There is no place for divisive and negative politics... The day I took a dip at Haridwar - that day was a festival. Today, I got the opportunity to take a holy dip here," Akhilesh Yadav told news agency ANI.

He further added: "I got the opportunity to take 11 dips in the Sangam as per the tradition. This Maha Kumbh is being witnessed after 144 years. Today, we take a pledge and pray to god that there should be harmony, goodwill and everyone should keep moving forward with tolerance. We take pledge for people's welfare."

He also expressed dissatisfaction over the arrangements made by the administration for the elderly coming to the festival.

"The people in govt shouldn't make this event a sports event... I have seen that older people who are coming from various places - there should have been the kind of management that nobody has to face any difficulty...", Yadav added.

This comes days after Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath slammed Akhilesh Yadav for "criticising" Maha Kumbh.

"Today Samajwadis are more concerned about property... When the whole country and the world were praising Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh, then the former CM of UP (Akhilesh Yadav) was criticising Maha Kumbh every day and playing with the faith of the people of India," Yogi had said.

Responding to his visit, Uttar Pradesh deputy CM Brajesh Pathak stated that proper arrangements are in place.

"Everyone is welcome (at the Maha Kumbh). There are very good arrangements, everyone is welcome," he said.