Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), April 11 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday termed Pakistan as 'sinful' and asserted that it will 'further disintegrate'.
While speaking at an event in Miyanpur, Adityanath distributed land ownership rights certificates to Hindu families displaced from Bangladesh.
The chief minister said that Miyanpur will now be named Ravindra Nagar.
"The 'sinful' Pakistan divided India, and then Pakistan itself got divided. It is going to break into more pieces. The Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Persians ('Parsis'), and Christians living there were punished because there is no place for any other religion there. Today, I am proud to distribute land rights to over 1,000 families, who were displaced in 1947 and 1971 by the Partition and the subsequent tragedy, and have settled here for years," Adityanath said.
He said that the land rights are being transferred to Bengali 'relatives'.
The UP Chief Minister said that the people from Pakistan usurped the land and property of those who were displaced from Bangladesh. He also inaugurated the foundation stone laying ceremony for 213 projects worth ₹417 crore across the Lakhimpur, Dhaurahra and Mohammadi assembly constituencies.
"Today, you have the ownership of that land on which you settled decades ago. I have come here to fulfill that dream on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas' mantra of Prime Minister Modi," Adityanath said.
Attacking the Congress, he said, "See the sin of the Congress. They continued to take your votes, but never gave you the ownership rights. In order to hide your identity, they named this village Miyanpur. Just think, there is not even a single 'miyaan', but the name is Miyanpur. Now, this hamlet, where the friends from Bangladesh have come, will be named as Ravindra Nagar. Your identity will be Rabindranath Tagore, the writer of the National Anthem."
He said that the land of Bengal is the "spiritual and heritage" land of India.
Adityanath said that this year marks the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.
Referring to the partition of India, he said, "Why did the tragedy of Partition occur in 1947? It happened because we were divided and fragmented. Even today, anyone who sows discord along caste lines and weakens the social fabric is committing a grave sin. There can be no greater betrayal of the nation than this. Such people are betraying the country and the trust of future generations."
He also spoke about the condition of minorities in Bangladesh.
"When a Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist or Jain is persecuted in Bangladesh, their hope is India. They look to India for justice and support…," he said.
Striking an emotional chord, Adityanath said, "You did not merely cross the border; you carried broken dreams and deep anguish. You left behind loved ones and faced an uncertain future. You did not leave by choice. You were forced out when others took control of your homes. Yet, amid this hardship, there was hope, the hope that in India you would find a home and dignity."
"And remember, neither Bangladesh nor Pakistan accepted you. Because you were Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi, it was India that opened its arms and welcomed you," he added.
Highlighting what he described as the "tolerance" of Hindu society, the chief minister said, "When you came here, no one asked your caste, sect or creed. You were embraced and accepted."