‘Insult to Hindus’: BJP blasts Akhilesh Yadav’s ‘why spending money on diyas’ remark

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has found himself in the middle of a controversy after he allegedly made a remark questioning why people spend large sums on lighting diyas and candles during Diwali. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party termed his comments as “shocking” and “insensitive” and accused the former chief minister of insulting the Hindu faith.

Yadav made his remark on Saturday when he urged people to take inspiration from the festive lighting during Christmas.

“Throughout the world, cities become beautifully illuminated during Christmas, and this festive lighting can last for months. We should take inspiration from this. Why do we need to spend money on diyas and candles, and overthink the process? We should reconsider what to expect from the government; perhaps it should be changed. We will ensure that there are more stunning lights in the future,” he said.

In a sharp retort, BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya said diyas and candles are part of India’s tradition.

“Akhilesh Yadav’s statement is not only shocking but also shows insensitivity towards our festivals. Diwali is a symbol of our cultural and spiritual values — it is not just a festival of lights, but it conveys the message of the victory of light over darkness,’  Malviya wrote on X.

“Diyas and candles are part of our tradition, embodying the spirit and devotion of every household. Calling them a ‘waste of money’ is not only inappropriate but also an insult to the Hindu faith,” he added.

BJP Praveen Khandelwal alleged that Yadav would not understand India’s culture as he “only cares about vote banks”.

“Lighting diyas and firecrackers is part of India’s culture. Maulana Akhilesh Yadav doesn’t understand this, as he only cares about vote banks and has nothing to do with Indian civilisation. This is why the public rejects him every time,” he told IANS news agency.

The controversy erupted ahead of the grand culmination of the Ayodhya Deepotsav on Monday when 26,11,101 diyas will be lit across 56 ghats along the Saryu River.

India