Congress slams Yogi for 'Sankardeva fought infiltartors' comment

GUWAHATI: The Assam Congress today launched a scathing attack on Uttar Pradesh chief minister for claiming that Vaishnavite Saint Sankardeva (1449–1568) had fought against infiltrators from other countries.

Yogi during a campaign speech in Lanka said that while Sankadeva had alerted the people about the dangers of harboring 'infiltrators', the Congress, on the other hand, is guilty of looking out for the interests of the same section of people.

Taking affront, the Congress released a statement wherein it stated that the party "is amazed at the statement of CM Uttar Pradesh Sri Yogi Adityanath that Srimanta Sankardeva a15th century Vaishnavite Saint was fighting against infiltrators at that time."

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"This proves how much they know about the culture they claim they are going to protect. While Yogi ji talks about a much revered 15th Century Saint Srimanta Sankardeva fighting against infiltrators he should know exactly what Srimanta Sankardeva fought against. Srimanta Sankardeva was against the exploitation of people by those who followed the ideologies and dogmas laid down by Manusmriti and also against idol worship," the party wrote in its speech, adding that the Saint believed in the assimilation of society and was fighting against the caste system.

Yogiji needs lessons in history as does the PM who said Lachit Barphukan was a freedom fighter whereas Lachit Barphukan was an Ahom General who fought the famous battle of Saraighat in 1671, it said.

The BJP keeps talking about Srimanta Sankardeva and Bir Lachit Barphukan at the drop of a hat yet they do not know who they were or what they stood for, the Congress release stated, further adding that the party "would like to gift some history books to Sri Modi and Sri Adityanath."

They (the BJP) are trying to impose Nagpur culture on the Assamese people and the people of Assam know very well how Nagpur culture can engulf and destroy Assamese culture, the statement further read.