Stop making false statements, focus on the real problems of U.P., wrote State Congress chief Ajay Rai to CM
Ajay Rai urges CM Yogi Adityanath to address real issues in U.P. instead of making false allegations and divisive statements.
Reacting to Yogi Adityanath claiming that the Congress state president eats fish during Shravan, Ajay Rai challenged the Chief Minister to make a public, authentic picture or video of him eating fish
Published - August 28, 2026 02:40 am IST - Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) President Ajay Rai. File. | Photo Credit: PTI
Uttar Pradesh Congress Unit president Ajay Rai on Thursday (August 27, 2026) wrote an open letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accusing him of continuously making casteist and religious statements aiming to polarise society on such lines for electoral dividends
Reacting to Mr. Adityanath claiming that the Congress state president eats fish during Shravan, Mr. Rai challenged the Chief Minister to make a public, authentic picture or video of him eating fish, adding that if the CM presents the picture or video, he (Mr. Rai) will retire from politics.
“You are the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, yet the atmosphere of the State is deteriorating due to your religious and caste-extremist statements. The people have given you power to solve the problems of the State for the second time in a row, not to make personal allegations against political opponents. You accused me of feasting on fish after visiting Ayodhya and trembling in front of the mafia,” reads the letter written by Mr. Rai to the U.P. CM.
“It is an indelible truth that I am a vegetarian, and the event in which my presence is mentioned was at the invitation of the Nishad community. After the program, the organisers had a feast for their community. It was their constitutional right to decide what to eat in it. I challenged you that if you have any authentic picture or video of me eating fish, then bring it in front of the public; I will retire from politics. But even after five days of my challenge, there was no response from you,” the letter further reads.
Mr. Rai, further wrote in his letter, “this is the way of politics of your party, and your mother organisation is being seen by the public - make allegations and keep quiet when you ask for proof. Congress does not do such politics. Its leaders have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country and its unity. As far as fear in front of the mafia is concerned, after the murder of Awadhesh Rai ji, I did not bow my head before any mafia. I fought in the courts for justice for almost 32 years. During this time, my security was also withdrawn on two occasions, in April 2021 and September 2025. But neither did I get scared of the removal of security, nor did I back down from the fight for justice. Therefore, the allegation of fear in front of the mafia about me is not only a lie, it is also an insult to that long fight for justice.”
The Congress state president added that there are bigger questions in front of the State than the feast of fish, including deteriorating law and order, negligence of police in police stations, atrocities against women and girls and weaker sections, unemployment, inflation, problems of farmers and youth and administrative corruption like the electricity system, construction of roads etc.
“A large number of people, including Dalits, backward communities, and minorities, are complaining of injustice. The answer to these questions will not be found through advertisements, but from work on the ground. Take some advice from the Governor as well. Pay more attention to keeping the prices of sugar, pulses, oils and food items low during festivals,” said Mr. Rai, in his letter.
Published - August 28, 2026 02:40 am IST
Uttar Pradesh / India / Lucknow
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