Ahead of the auspicious Diwali celebrations, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has inadvertently ignited a political debate by questioning the customary spending on traditional lamps and candles. He drew a comparison with the elaborate, prolonged illuminations seen during Christmas globally, suggesting India could adopt similar practices to avoid expenses on diyas.
His remarks, made at a public gathering, have drawn sharp condemnation from the ruling BJP. Leaders have accused Yadav of demeaning Indian culture and promoting foreign festivities over deeply rooted Hindu traditions. Yadav’s specific comment, “Why do we have to spend money on lamps and candles and put so much thought into it? We will make sure that there are more beautiful lights,” has become a focal point of criticism.
BJP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal did not hold back in his online response, accusing Yadav of siding with foreign traditions over Indian ones. Bansal criticized the former UP Chief Minister for appearing to preach to a billion Hindus about saving money on diyas, contrasting it with praise for Christmas. He alleged that Yadav actively glorifies non-Indian festivals and expressed dismay at the suggestion that Hindu society should take cues from Christian celebrations.
Bansal further alleged a pattern of disrespect towards Hindu traditions, linking Yadav to ‘jihadis and conversion gangs’ and claiming he was disturbed by the grand preparations for Diwali, especially in Ayodhya. He referred to Yadav with a derogatory nickname, ‘Tipu,’ and questioned his alleged jealousy over the brightness associated with Ayodhya and Hindu happiness.
Adding to the BJP’s offensive, Madhya Pradesh minister Vishwas Sarang questioned Yadav’s identity and background, suggesting he might be better suited to names like ‘Antony’ or ‘Akbar’ given his stance on Diwali. Sarang went as far as to suggest an investigation into the Yadav family’s religious leanings, referencing a past incident involving alleged firing on Ram devotees. He also highlighted the economic aspect, stating that Yadav, coming from a privileged background, was disrespecting the hard work of the Prajapati community, who are integral to Diwali traditions by crafting the essential diyas.