Yogi Adityanath

Adityanath belongs to a specific tradition of [[Hindutva]] politics in [[Uttar Pradesh]] that can be traced back to the Mahant [[Digvijay Nath]].<ref name="Jaffrelot">{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-other-saffron/99/|title=The other saffron|last=Jaffrelot|first=Christophe|date=6 October 2014|newspaper=Indian Express|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008195641/http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-other-saffron/99/|archive-date=8 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Ayodhya>{{cite book |last1=Jha |first1=Krishna |last2=Jha |first2=Dhirendra K. |title=Ayodhya: The Dark Night |publisher=HarperCollins India |year=2012 |isbn=978-93-5029-600-4}}</ref> Both Digvijay Nath and his successor [[Mahant Avaidyanath]] belonged to the [[Hindu Mahasabha]] and were elected to the Parliament on that party's ticket. The head priest ([[Mahant]]) of the [[Gorakhnath Math]], a prominent [[Hindu]] temple,<ref name=TOI92>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/92-yr-old-Avaidyanath-hopes-to-see-temple/articleshow/6661784.cms 92-yr-old Avaidyanath hopes to see temple]. ''Times of India''. 1 October 2010</ref> [[Mahant Avaidyanath]] switched to the BJP in 1991, but nevertheless maintained significant autonomy. Four years after Adityanath was designated Avaidyanath's successor, he was elected to the Lower House of the Indian Parliament (the [[Lok Sabha]]).<ref name=Jaffrelot/> Avaidyanath is known as the mentor and guru of Adityanath.<ref name=TOI92>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/92-yr-old-Avaidyanath-hopes-to-see-temple/articleshow/6661784.cms 92-yr-old Avaidyanath hopes to see temple]. ''Times of India''. 1 October 2010</ref><ref name=ndtv-2017>[http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/yogi-adityanaths-village-celebrates-advice-from-chief-ministers-father-1671266 As Yogi Adityanath's Village Celebrates His Rise, Advice From His Father], NDTV News, 20 March 2017.</ref> Adityanath was elected as Member of Parliament from [[Gorakhpur (Lok Sabha Constituency)|Gorakhpur]] first time in 1998 during [[12th Lok Sabha]] at the age of 26, He was its youngest member at that time. He was elected to the Parliament for five consecutive terms in [[1998 Indian general election|1998]], [[1999 Indian general election|1999]], [[2004 Indian general election|2004]], [[2009 Indian general election|2009]] and [[2014 Indian general election|2014]] elections.<ref name=Loksabha/><ref name=TOI21Mar/>

Adityanath belongs to a specific tradition of [[Hindutva]] politics in [[Uttar Pradesh]] that can be traced back to the Mahant [[Digvijay Nath]].<ref name="Jaffrelot">{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-other-saffron/99/|title=The other saffron|last=Jaffrelot|first=Christophe|date=6 October 2014|newspaper=Indian Express|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008195641/http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-other-saffron/99/|archive-date=8 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Ayodhya>{{cite book |last1=Jha |first1=Krishna |last2=Jha |first2=Dhirendra K. |title=Ayodhya: The Dark Night |publisher=HarperCollins India |year=2012 |isbn=978-93-5029-600-4}}</ref> Both Digvijay Nath and his successor [[Mahant Avaidyanath]] belonged to the [[Hindu Mahasabha]] and were elected to the Parliament on that party's ticket. The head priest ([[Mahant]]) of the [[Gorakhnath Math]], a prominent [[Hindu]] temple,<ref name=TOI92>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/92-yr-old-Avaidyanath-hopes-to-see-temple/articleshow/6661784.cms 92-yr-old Avaidyanath hopes to see temple]. ''Times of India''. 1 October 2010</ref> [[Mahant Avaidyanath]] switched to the BJP in 1991, but nevertheless maintained significant autonomy. Four years after Adityanath was designated Avaidyanath's successor, he was elected to the Lower House of the Indian Parliament (the [[Lok Sabha]]).<ref name=Jaffrelot/> Avaidyanath is known as the mentor and guru of Adityanath.<ref name=TOI92>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/92-yr-old-Avaidyanath-hopes-to-see-temple/articleshow/6661784.cms 92-yr-old Avaidyanath hopes to see temple]. ''Times of India''. 1 October 2010</ref><ref name=ndtv-2017>[http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/yogi-adityanaths-village-celebrates-advice-from-chief-ministers-father-1671266 As Yogi Adityanath's Village Celebrates His Rise, Advice From His Father], NDTV News, 20 March 2017.</ref> Adityanath was elected as Member of Parliament from [[Gorakhpur (Lok Sabha Constituency)|Gorakhpur]] first time in 1998 during [[12th Lok Sabha]] at the age of 26, He was its youngest member at that time. He was elected to the Parliament for five consecutive terms in [[1998 Indian general election|1998]], [[1999 Indian general election|1999]], [[2004 Indian general election|2004]], [[2009 Indian general election|2009]] and [[2014 Indian general election|2014]] elections.<ref name=Loksabha/><ref name=TOI21Mar/>

Adityanath's attendance in Lok Sabha was 77% and he asked 284 questions, participated in 56 debates and introduced three private member Bills in the [[16th Lok Sabha]].<ref>{{citation |title=Yogi Adityanath's Lok Sabha attendance is 77%, Amarinder Singh's 6% |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/yogi-adityanaths-lok-sabha-attendance-is-77-amarinder-singhs-6/articleshow/57755887.cms |work=[[The Economic Times]] |date=21 March 2017 |access-date=22 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324003843/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/yogi-adityanaths-lok-sabha-attendance-is-77-amarinder-singhs-6/articleshow/57755887.cms |archive-date=24 March 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Adityanath had also said in the Lok Sabha on August 13, 2014, that who is communal should be a topic of discussion and that whoever claims that My God, my Prophet is the most superior is communal, to say that the only people who are entitled to life are those who believe in him which is not allowed by the [[Hinduism|Hindu philosophy of life]], the guiding principle of which is "live and let live."<ref>{{cite web | title=Modi appeals for moratorium on communalism but is his MP listening? | website=The Indian Express | date=2014-08-16 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/modi-appeals-for-moratorium-on-communalism-but-is-his-mp-listening/ | access-date=2025-06-17}}</ref> After his first electoral win, Adityanath started his own youth organisation [[Hindu Yuva Vahini]], which came to be known for its activities in [[Purvanchal|eastern Uttar Pradesh]] and was instrumental in Adityanath's meteoric rise. There have been recurrent tensions between Adityanath and the BJP leadership over the allocating election tickets. However, the BJP has not let the tensions mount because Adityanath has served as a star campaigner for the party.<ref name=Jaffrelot/><ref name=communal>{{cite web |last1=Graff |first1=Violette |last2=Galonnier |first2=Juliette |title=Hindu–Muslim Communal Riots in India II (1986–2011) |url=http://www.sciencespo.fr/mass-violence-war-massacre-resistance/en/document/hindu-muslim-communal-riots-india-ii-1986-2011 |publisher=[[Sciences Po]] |date=20 August 2013 |access-date=18 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319111000/http://www.sciencespo.fr/mass-violence-war-massacre-resistance/en/document/hindu-muslim-communal-riots-india-ii-1986-2011 |archive-date=19 March 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=DNA>[http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-uttar-pradesh-s-next-cm-yogi-adityanath-a-mascot-of-unapologetic-hindutva-2358122 Uttar Pradesh's next CM Yogi Adityanath, a mascot of unapologetic Hindutva] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319105546/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-uttar-pradesh-s-next-cm-yogi-adityanath-a-mascot-of-unapologetic-hindutva-2358122 |date=19 March 2017 }}, Daily News and Analysis, 18 March 2017.</ref>

Adityanath's attendance in Lok Sabha was 77% and he asked 284 questions, participated in 56 debates and introduced three private member Bills in the [[16th Lok Sabha]].<ref>{{citation |title=Yogi Adityanath's Lok Sabha attendance is 77%, Amarinder Singh's 6% |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/yogi-adityanaths-lok-sabha-attendance-is-77-amarinder-singhs-6/articleshow/57755887.cms |work=[[The Economic Times]] |date=21 March 2017 |access-date=22 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324003843/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/yogi-adityanaths-lok-sabha-attendance-is-77-amarinder-singhs-6/articleshow/57755887.cms |archive-date=24 March 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Adityanath had also said in the Lok Sabha on August 13, 2014, that who is communal should be a topic of discussion and that whoever claims that My God, my Prophet is the most superior is communal; to say that the only people who are entitled to life are those who believe in him which is not allowed by the [[Hinduism|Hindu philosophy of life]], the guiding principle of which is "live and let live."<ref>{{cite web | title=Modi appeals for moratorium on communalism but is his MP listening? | website=The Indian Express | date=2014-08-16 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/modi-appeals-for-moratorium-on-communalism-but-is-his-mp-listening/ | access-date=2025-06-17}}</ref> After his first electoral win, Adityanath started his own youth organisation [[Hindu Yuva Vahini]], which came to be known for its activities in [[Purvanchal|eastern Uttar Pradesh]] and was instrumental in Adityanath's meteoric rise. There have been recurrent tensions between Adityanath and the BJP leadership over the allocating election tickets. However, the BJP has not let the tensions mount because Adityanath has served as a star campaigner for the party.<ref name=Jaffrelot/><ref name=communal>{{cite web |last1=Graff |first1=Violette |last2=Galonnier |first2=Juliette |title=Hindu–Muslim Communal Riots in India II (1986–2011) |url=http://www.sciencespo.fr/mass-violence-war-massacre-resistance/en/document/hindu-muslim-communal-riots-india-ii-1986-2011 |publisher=[[Sciences Po]] |date=20 August 2013 |access-date=18 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319111000/http://www.sciencespo.fr/mass-violence-war-massacre-resistance/en/document/hindu-muslim-communal-riots-india-ii-1986-2011 |archive-date=19 March 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=DNA>[http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-uttar-pradesh-s-next-cm-yogi-adityanath-a-mascot-of-unapologetic-hindutva-2358122 Uttar Pradesh's next CM Yogi Adityanath, a mascot of unapologetic Hindutva] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319105546/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-uttar-pradesh-s-next-cm-yogi-adityanath-a-mascot-of-unapologetic-hindutva-2358122 |date=19 March 2017 }}, Daily News and Analysis, 18 March 2017.</ref>

In 2006, he took up links between [[Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre)|Nepali Maoists]] and Indian Leftist parties as a key campaign issue and encouraged [[Madheshi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal|Madhesi]] leaders to oppose Maoism in [[Nepal]].<ref name="google"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 April 2017 |title=Encounter with Adityanath |url=http://www.spotlightnepal.com/News/Article/Battle-of-New-Republic-encounter-Adityanath |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415174847/http://www.spotlightnepal.com/News/Article/Battle-of-New-Republic-encounter-Adityanath |archive-date=15 April 2017 |access-date=1 May 2017 |website=Spotlight News Magazine Nepal |language=en}}</ref> In 2008, his convoy was reportedly attacked while en route to [[Azamgarh]] for an anti-terrorism rally. The attack left one person dead and at least six persons injured.<ref name="2008zeeAttack">{{cite news|title=BJP MP Yogi Adityanath's convoy attacked, 7 injured|url=http://zeenews.india.com/home/bjp-mp-yogi-adityanaths-convoy-attacked-7-injured_467356.html|access-date=17 February 2018|agency=Zee News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217141914/http://zeenews.india.com/home/bjp-mp-yogi-adityanaths-convoy-attacked-7-injured_467356.html|archive-date=17 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="2008attackTOI">{{cite news |title=Yogi Adityanath: When Yogi survived a murderous attack |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/when-yogi-survived-a-murderous-attack/articleshow/61747357.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124030138/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/when-yogi-survived-a-murderous-attack/articleshow/61747357.cms |archive-date=24 January 2018|work=The Times of India |date=22 November 2017 |access-date=17 February 2018 }}</ref>

In 2006, he took up links between [[Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre)|Nepali Maoists]] and Indian Leftist parties as a key campaign issue and encouraged [[Madheshi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal|Madhesi]] leaders to oppose Maoism in [[Nepal]].<ref name="google"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 April 2017 |title=Encounter with Adityanath |url=http://www.spotlightnepal.com/News/Article/Battle-of-New-Republic-encounter-Adityanath |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415174847/http://www.spotlightnepal.com/News/Article/Battle-of-New-Republic-encounter-Adityanath |archive-date=15 April 2017 |access-date=1 May 2017 |website=Spotlight News Magazine Nepal |language=en}}</ref> In 2008, his convoy was reportedly attacked while en route to [[Azamgarh]] for an anti-terrorism rally. The attack left one person dead and at least six persons injured.<ref name="2008zeeAttack">{{cite news|title=BJP MP Yogi Adityanath's convoy attacked, 7 injured|url=http://zeenews.india.com/home/bjp-mp-yogi-adityanaths-convoy-attacked-7-injured_467356.html|access-date=17 February 2018|agency=Zee News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217141914/http://zeenews.india.com/home/bjp-mp-yogi-adityanaths-convoy-attacked-7-injured_467356.html|archive-date=17 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="2008attackTOI">{{cite news |title=Yogi Adityanath: When Yogi survived a murderous attack |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/when-yogi-survived-a-murderous-attack/articleshow/61747357.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124030138/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/when-yogi-survived-a-murderous-attack/articleshow/61747357.cms |archive-date=24 January 2018|work=The Times of India |date=22 November 2017 |access-date=17 February 2018 }}</ref>