Before delving into the story of Yogi Adityanath and Mukhtar Ansari, let's go back to the year 2008 when Ahmedabad, Gujarat, witnessed 21 bombings in just 70 minutes on July 26th. These bombings resulted in the death of 56 people, while more than 200 others were injured in these terrorist attacks. Concerned about this situation, the then Member of Parliament from Gorakhpur, Yogi Adityanath, was deeply troubled.
Mukhtar Ansari and the Bombing Suspects:
Some of the suspects involved in the Ahmedabad bombings were apprehended from Azamgarh, a stronghold of the mafia and criminal gangs, particularly associated with Mukhtar Ansari. Mukhtar, who enjoyed protection from the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav, had no fear of the police or the law. Judges, high-ranking police officials, all seemed to be under his control.
Yogi Adityanath's Rally:
During that time, Yogi Adityanath, a three-time Member of Parliament from Gorakhpur, was planning a massive rally in Azamgarh. Preparations were underway to gather more than a lakh people for the rally, scheduled for September 7th, 2008. It was a time when Yogi Adityanath's influence was rising in Purvanchal, and amidst the terror instigated by Mukhtar, the Hindu community found Yogi Adityanath as a messiah.
Formation of Hindu Yuva Vahini:
In 2004, having won the Lok Sabha elections for the third time from Gorakhpur, Yogi Adityanath established the "Hindu Yuva Vahini" to unite the Hindu society of Purvanchal and protect its interests. As Yogi Adityanath kept winning with increasing margins in successive Lok Sabha elections, more and more people joined the Hindu Yuva Vahini.
Attack on Yogi's Convoy:
Yogi Adityanath's growing popularity was not favored by Mukhtar Ansari or the Mulayam government. As Yogi was advancing towards Azamgarh in 2008 with his convoy, little did he know that his convoy was about to be attacked. Waiting for Yogi Adityanath's convoy were assailants, ready to unleash a deadly assault.
As the convoy approached a bridge near Azamgarh, at 1:20 PM, stones were hurled at the seventh vehicle in the convoy. Soon after, a petrol bomb was thrown, initiating a synchronized attack meticulously planned by the assailants. The supporters of Yogi were thrown into chaos. The convoy split into three parts, with six vehicles moving ahead and the rest left behind. The attackers targeted Yogi Adityanath, whom they hadn't located yet, intensifying their aggression.
Changing Yogi's Convoy:
Upon receiving information about the attack, police teams were dispatched from nearby police stations. Security cordons were set up around the vehicles. The Circle Officer, Shailendra Srivastava, ordered a retaliatory action, resulting in the death of one person. The injured were rushed to hospitals, but Yogi was still unaccounted for. His search was intensified. However, Yogi had already been shifted to the first vehicle of the convoy. This change, made at the PWD guest house, was not known to the attackers.
Ultimately, Divine Intervention:
Sixteen years have passed since this incident, and today, Mukhtar Ansari, once synonymous with fear and terror in Azamgarh, met his demise only due to a heart attack, fearing that he might be poisoned in jail under Yogi Adityanath's government. There's a popular saying that goes, "God's stick is not visible, nor does it make any sound, but when it strikes, it inflicts immense pain." Today, Uttar Pradesh is progressing from being a jungle raj to becoming a developed state under the guidance of Yogi Adityanath's government.
