Last Updated:
Yogi Adityanath also said that Aurangzeb and Akbar had the “same mindset towards Hindus”.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath attends a program organized for the unveiling of the statue of Maharana Pratap, in Gautam Buddha Nagar district. (IMAGE: PTI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Mughal kings Akbar and Aurangzeb are not national icons and that they had the same mindset towards Hindus as he unveiled a grand statue of Veer Shiromani Maharana Pratap in Dadri on Saturday.
During the event held at the Maharana Pratap Stadium in the NTPC complex, Yogi paid tribute to Maharana Pratap’s unmatched dedication to self-respect, faith, and the nation, calling him a “true national hero.”
“Instead of surrendering for power, he chose self-respect,” the UP CM said, adding that India’s true heroes are Maharana Pratap, Veer Shivaji and Guru Gobind Singh.
VIDEO | Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) states that true heroes like Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj stand unmatched, while figures like Akbar and Aurangzeb cannot be revered in the same light.(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/5BYEksA2ce
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 8, 2025
“Haldighati made Maharana Pratap a national icon. He not only reclaimed Mewar’s lost territories but also forced Akbar to retreat,” he said.
“Akbar can never be a hero. Whether it was Akbar or Aurangzeb, their mindset towards Hindus was the same and they conspired against India’s eternal traditions,” Yogi added and said that those who “do not respect these great leaders suffer from a distorted mindset and need correction”.
He hailed the Mahakumbh’s record 66.3 crore devotees, calling it proof of India’s culture and security.
Referring to Braj’s Holi celebrations, he noted how foreigners admire India’s unity. He praised PM Modi’s vision for linking faith with prosperity and slammed misinformation on Mahakumbh, stating it only strengthened Sanatan followers’ devotion.
He said that his state is the biggest destination for investment in the country as he also laid the foundation stone of Microsoft’s India Development Center (IDC) here.
“I have been told that Microsoft’s India Development Center will become the largest centre of research and development outside their headquarters… After Hyderabad, now Uttar Pradesh is going to be the home of Microsoft in the form of a new campus,” he said.
He also inaugurated the AI Engineering Center of MAQ Software and Sify Data Center in Gautam Buddha Nagar.
The state’s policies are being shaped in line with the demands of the modern era, the needs of the youth, and the evolving global landscape through research and development, the chief minister added.