In Yogi's UP, Haj House also goes saffron
The Yogi Adityanath-led UP government has taken its love for saffron to new heights. After rolling out saffron-colored buses, painting electric poles the same color and releasing saffron booklets and website, the BJP government has colored the exterior of Lucknow's Haj House saffron. Opposition parties and Muslims have accused the government of hurting religious sentiments. Why is Yogi's move controversial? Read on!
Why is the government's move provocative?
Normally, saffron is associated with Hinduism and especially with BJP's umbrella organization- the Sangh Parivar. On the other hand, Muslims' religious Haj pilgrimage begins from Lucknow's Haj House. It has a prayer hall and residential block. Officials there inspect and facilitate documents for travelling to Mecca. Thus, when the green-and-white exterior wall of Haj House was also painted saffron, it raised concern.
Meanwhile, Muslim minister in Yogi's government says "nothing objectionable"
Despite many Muslims raising hue-and-cry over the issue, UP minister Mohsin Raza didn't find anything "objectionable" about the saffronization. He said, "There is no need for controversy in such things. Saffron is an energetic and bright-looking color. The building looks beautiful." He added that the opposition has no "big" issues to rake up and so relies on such "inconsequential things."
Is Yogi determined to pursue his "saffron" agenda, literally?
Since assuming power in March'17, Yogi has quite literally been pursuing his saffron agenda. Amusingly, his office and the towels on the chairs he sits on, in meetings/conferences, are also painted saffron. Is UP destined to have CMs with quirks? After Mayawati's "elephant statue" obsession, Yogi's saffron mania will certainly fluster UPites. What's next Yogiji: saffron roads or saffron Taj Mahal?
