"Earn merit, wash away your sins": UP Dy CM Brajesh Pathak slams Akhilesh Yadav's statement on Mahakumbh's invitation

New Delhi [India], December 29 : Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Sunday, countered Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav's statement over Mahakumbh's invitation to top leaders.
He also extended an invitation to Akhilesh Yadav to attend the Maha Kumbh, suggesting that he could "earn merit and wash away his sins" by doing so.
"You (Akhilesh Yadav) also come, earn merit and wash away your sins... You must also remember your rule in Uttar Pradesh state... The people of Uttar Pradesh will never forgive Samajwadi Party..." said the UP Dy CM Brajesh Pathak.
This comes after Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh for extending invitations to the top leaders of the country for the Mahakumbh 2025, stating that millions of people attend the Kumbh Mela not due to invitations, but out of faith.
"Invitations are not given for Kumbh. People come to Kumbh on their own out of faith. I do not want to say anything about anyone," Akhilesh Yadav told reporters in Lucknow.
He added, "We have learnt and read that people come on their own to such events. Are the crores of people who will come for the Kumbh Mela, invited? This government is different."
Furthermore, Pathak accused Yadav of inconsistently questioning the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), implying that Yadav only raises concerns about EVMs when his party loses elections.
"You raise questions on EVM from time to time. You yourself think that when you (opposition) lose then EVM is bad and when you win then EVM is fine? ..." said the UP Dy CM.
He also highlighted the state's infrastructure development. Pathak claimed that Uttar Pradesh's infrastructure is being developed at a global level, with the state making rapid progress in this regard
"...I want to tell the head of Samajwadi Party that today the infrastructure of Uttar Pradesh state is being prepared at the world level... Today, in terms of infrastructure, Uttar Pradesh state is rapidly moving ahead on the scale of the nation... I heartily welcome the people of Sanatan Dharma present all over the world in Maha Kumbh...," he said.
On Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the national capital to extend an invitation for the Mahakumbh 2025.
The Mahakumbh, held every twelve years, will commence on January 13 and conclude on February 26, 2025. Preparations are in their final stages, with the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department working to provide new and exciting experiences for visitors under the guidance of CM Yogi Adityanath.
Ahead of the event, UP CM Yogi also extended invitations to former President Ram Nath Kovind and newly appointed Governor of Mizoram, General VK Singh (retd), and BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda.