BJP slams SP MLA for saying that only illiterate people go on Kanwar Yatra

Only illiterate, superstitious villagers embark on the Kanwar Yatra, Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Ziyauddin Rizvi said on Saturday (July 26, 2025), claiming that the family members of big leaders or industrialists do not undertake this pilgrimage.

“Flowers are being showered on Kanwar Yatris. Why do no sons of an IAS officer or PCS officer, or the sons of Amit Shah, Anil Ambani or of any BJP MP or MLA go for the Kanwar Yatra?” asked the Sikandarpur MLA, addressing an SP rally at Ballia district headquarters.

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‘Communal polarisation’

The BJP accused the SP of trying to create communal divisions, claiming that Mr. Rizvi’s statement showed his religious intolerance.