Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 25 (ANI): In a big charge, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has alleged that Congress and its allies in the INDIA bloc used billionaire George Soros's money to influence the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Sharpening his attacks, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister even called this alleged involvement an act by a 'traitor.'

In an exclusive interview with ANI, CM Adityanath said, 'They did propaganda and they had not only spread propaganda, but foreign money was also involved in it. George Soros had long ago announced it... I am saying that foreign money was involved in the Lok Sabha elections throughout the country in which Congress and other parties of the INDIA bloc were directly indirectly involved, and through that, they tried to influence the elections. This falls in the category of deshdroh (treason).'

The Uttar Pradesh CM also opened up on the recent controversy surrounding stand-up artiste Kunal Kamra. Criticising him, the Chief Minister said that some people have treated freedom speech as their birthright to divide the country further.

'The freedom of expression cannot be used to attack. It is unfortunate that some people considered the freedom of speech as their birthright to divide the country and further deepen divisions,' Adityanath said.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also unleashed a fierce critique of the Congress party over the four per cent Minority reservation quota bill, stating that the reservation on the basis of religion by the Congress-led Karnataka government is an insult to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's Constitution.

He said, 'The reservation on the basis of religion by Karnataka government is an insult to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's Constitution. What all wrong did they not do to the Constitution in 1976?.'

'DK Shivakumar is saying exactly what he has inherited from Congress's legacy,' he said.

Asked about his 'dabang' style of governance, the chief minister said, 'This lathi not only safeguards our sisters, daughters, businessmen but also deals with mafia and goons. Ye humara Dabang style nahi, yeh humari sharafat ka style hai.'

The ANI Podcast with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sees him in a freewheeling chat where he gives his take on various issues and controversies. The podcast will be simulcast to ANI subscribers at 10 am on Wednesday while the ANI Wire subscribers will receive a text feed of the podcast at 9 am on the ANI Wire Portal. (ANI)