Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday (February 14, 2026) said that using derogatory language against Shankaracharya constitutes both verbal violence ('shaabdik hinsaa') and a sin. "Using highly derogatory language against Shankaracharya is both verbal violence and a sin. Mr. Yadav further accused CM Adityanath of dabbling in hate politics, even on matters of religion. Defending the administration's management of the Magh Mela, Mr. Adityanath stated that when more than 4.5 crore devotees gather at one location, strict crowd management is essential to avert a stampede-like situation. Any such attempt can trigger a stampede and endanger lives, Mr. Adityanath said.

Source: The Hindu February 14, 2026 08:44 UTC