Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath to ministers: Toe party line while giving speeches

LUCKNOW: With Lok Sabha by-elections on two seats around the corner during which several BJP leaders are expected to campaign for the party, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the ministers to toe the party line while giving speeches or making public statements.
In a meeting with ministers, the CM is learnt to have asked them to avoid any controversy through their statements.
The directive comes in the background of protests that broke out in several states over the comments made on Prophet Muhammad by now suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and member Naveen Jindal.
‘Mins asked to avoid controversy’
Such meetings with the CM are held routinely where he asks us to maintain a certain decorum and follow party lines. If there is some major issue, we will be informed about the party line. However, this meeting was more to do with the Lok Sabha bypolls coming up in Rampur and Azamgarh. The party is drawing up the strategy for byelections and the CM has asked us to avoid unnecessary controversies and not say anything against the party line,” a minister said.
He said ministers were direct representatives of government and the party had a clear vision on development which should not be muddied by anything problematic. During the meeting, the party appointed finance minister Suresh Khanna and agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi in charge of Rampur and Azamgarh, respectively.