‘Akbar wasn’t great, Maharana Pratap was,’ says Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday claimed that Mughal emperor Akbar was not great. He claimed that it was rather the 16th century Mewar king Maharana Pratap who was great because the latter ultimately won his forts back.

Speaking in Lucknow, Adityanath claimed that Maharana Pratap had denied Akbar’s request to accept him as his ‘badshah’. He said, “Akbar asked Maharana Pratap to accept him as ‘badshah‘ & that then he won’t interfere in his kingdom Mewar. Maharana Pratap said we can’t accept a ‘vidharmi‘ & a foreigner as our ruler. Maharana proved it wasn’t Akbar, but he who was great, by winning back his forts.”

According to The Indian Express, “Adityanath also claimed some people are ready to disturb their own society, culture and country even today for their benefits.” The report also stated Adityanath had asked scheduled castes, tribes and backward communities to regard themselves as Pratap’s descendent because it were these tribes that made Pratap great.