Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath criticized Congress party supporters for allegedly organizing a fish feast during a welcome event for Ajay Rai in Ayodhya.

The clash highlights the deep divide between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress over religious optics in a city that serves as a primary symbol of Hindu faith. By framing the event as an affront to sentiment, the Chief Minister is challenging the Congress party's attempt to align itself with religious traditions.

The controversy occurred during the Hindu month of Sawan [1]. Adityanath said the Congress party sent mixed signals regarding its religious messaging [3]. He specifically targeted the contrast between the party's public devotion and the menu served at the event.

"They chant ‘Ram-Ram’ inside the temple and serve fish outside. This is duplicity," Adityanath said [1].

Reports regarding the location of the Chief Minister's remarks vary. Some sources state he criticized the feast while speaking in Ayodhya [1], while other reports indicate he made the comments during a ‘Bhav Samarpan Samaroh’ in Raebareli [2].

Ajay Rai, the Uttar Pradesh Congress president, denied personal involvement in the feast. He challenged the accusations by asking for evidence of his own participation in the meal.

"Show me a photograph of me eating fish and I will prove you wrong," Rai said [2].

The dispute centers on the timing of the event. Sawan is a holy period during which many Hindus observe dietary restrictions, including avoiding fish and meat [1]. Adityanath said the feast was a contradiction to the party's claims of respecting Hindu values.

“"They chant ‘Ram-Ram’ inside the temple and serve fish outside. This is duplicity."”

This confrontation illustrates the high stakes of symbolic politics in Ayodhya. For the BJP, maintaining strict adherence to religious norms during holy periods like Sawan is a key pillar of its identity. By accusing the Congress of 'duplicity,' the ruling party aims to paint its opposition as opportunistic and insincere in its religious outreach to the electorate.