Yogi Adityanath warns Taliban, says 'air strike is ready'

Lucknow: In a tough warning to the Taliban, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that if the insurgent group dares to move towards India, "an air strike is ready."

Addressing the Samajik Pratinidhi Sammelan in Lucknow, Adityanath said that Pakistan and Afghanistan are "feeling disturbed" by the Taliban.

The Chief Minister asserted that no country can dare to raise its eyes towards India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is powerful, and no country can dare to raise its eyes towards India. Today, Pakistan and Afghanistan are feeling disturbed because of the Taliban. But, the Taliban knows if it moves towards India, an air strike is ready," he said.

He also launched an attack on his political opponents in the state.

According to a statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh unit of the BJP, Mr Adityanath, referring apparently to SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar, said, "His (Rajbhar's) thought process is confined only to the development of his family."

"While the father wanted to become a minister, one son wanted to be an MP, and another an MLC. The shops of such people indulging in blackmailing must be shut," Mr Adityanath said.

Without naming Mr Rajbhar, Mr Adityanath further said, "There were two ministers from the Rajbhar community in my cabinet. In the Cabinet meeting, one minister opposed the construction of a memorial in honour of Maharaja Suheldev in Bahraich, while Anil Rajbhar wanted a grand memorial should be built."

Sharpening his attack on other rivals, Mr Adityanath said the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress have nothing to do with development.

Without naming the Samajwadi Party, Mr Adityanath asked whether those "who murdered Ram devotees have the courage to seek apology from the people of the country".