The “saffronisation” of Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has taken a fresh level with the exterior of Haj House in Lucknow, being used by Muslim pilgrims as a transit place on their way to Mecca, painted saffron. The move has drawn flak from opposition parties and various Muslim bodies.
The new development comes days after Chief Minister Adityanath reduced the number of holidays alloted to state-recognised madrassas in 2018 calendar year.
State minister Mohsin Raza defended the saffron colour of Haj House and said the opposition had been raising inconsequential things against the government. "There is no need for controversy in such things. Saffron is an energetic and bright looking colour and the building looks beautiful. Opposition has no big issues against us so they raise inconsequential things," Raza was quoted as saying by reports.
The Haj House, which earlier had green and white exterior wall, facilitates remote check-ins, pre-immigration and pre-customs checks for pilgrims.
Ever since assuming his office in March last year, Adityanath has been decisively pursuing his drive of saffron agenda with government building, buses, booklets and school bags getting saffron colour.
Reacting to the latest development, Samajwadi Party MLC Sunil Singh Sajan said: “The government is doing politics of colours and trying to hide its failures. Saffron is the colour of faith for us, but can it give food to the hungry? Or medicine to the ill? If colouring everything saffron had been of any help, Yogi should have achieved so much in 10 months.”
