Yogi Adityanath is Not Flouting Lockdown Norms… Even If It’s His Father’s Funeral

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is not going to join the list of leaders flouting lockdown rules. He won’t be attending his father’s funeral on April 21. Adityanath lost his father Anand Singh Bisht on Monday. He was 89.

BREAKING: Uttar Pradesh CM #YogiAdityanath ‘s father passes away at AIIMS, Delhihttps://t.co/PQbT45KnS5

— ABP News (@ABPNews) April 20, 2020

Anand Singh Bisht was undergoing treatment at AIIMS in Delhi. “CM Yogi Adityanath’s father left for his heavenly abode at 10.44 am. Our deepest condolences,” UP Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish K Awasthi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called Yogi Adityanath yesterday, enquiring about his father’s health. Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda met Anand Singh Bisht at AIIMS in Delhi yesterday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called UP CM Yogi Adityanath yesterday and enquired about his father’s health. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda had gone to meet UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s father at AIIMS in Delhi yesterday. pic.twitter.com/Hrh7MLljIA

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 20, 2020

It is learnt that Yogi Adityanath learnt about the passing away of his father in the middle of a review meeting on Covid-19. However, he waited for the meeting to get over and issued a press note later.

The news of his father breathing his last came to him in midst of the meeting . Unfazed by the news @myogiadityanath stood up only after completing the meeting on COVID-19.

— Shishir (@ShishirGoUP) April 20, 2020

Condolences poured in from all quarters, with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla wishing the family strength to bear this grief.

उत्तर प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री योगी श्री @myogiadityanath जी के पिता श्री आनंद सिंह बिष्ट जी के निधन का दुःखद समाचार मिला। शोक संतप्त परिवार के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं। ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्मा को अपने श्री चरणों में स्थान दे और परिजनों को इस दुःख को सहन करने की शक्ति दे।
ॐ शांति !!!

— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) April 20, 2020

Samajwadi Party chief and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav paid tribute to Anand Kumar Bisht, and expressed grief.

मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ जी के पिता के देहावसान पर भावभीनी श्रद्धांजलि!

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) April 20, 2020

BSP Chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Maywati also expressed her sorrow. “Let nature give their family the strength to bear this grief,” she said.

उत्तर प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ के पिता श्री आनन्द सिंह बिष्ट की इलाज के दौरान आज दिल्ली के एम्स में हुई मौत की खबर अति-दुःखद। कुदरत इनके परिवार को इस दुःख को सहन करने की शक्ति प्रदान करे।

— Mayawati (@Mayawati) April 20, 2020

Yogi Adityanath has said he will not attend his father’s funeral on April 21 due to the lockdown. The UP CM had received a lot of flak last month after he was seen participating in a pre-dawn religious ceremony in Ayodhya, hours after made a nationwide appeal to strictly observe social distancing during the 21-day lockdown.

“I wanted to be with my father in his last moments. My duty towards the welfare of 23 crore people of Uttar Pradesh amid Covid-19 pandemic kept me away from being with him. I will not be able to attend the last rites of my father on April 21. I request my mother and other relatives to follow lockdown norms during the funeral ceremony,” Adityanath said in a letter today.

Uttar Pradesh CM #YogiAdityanath‘s father passes away. Due to #Lockdown, CM not to take part in the last rites of his father, says he can only visit his home after #lockdown. pic.twitter.com/cCDAW1jv6h

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) April 20, 2020

The decision to keep national duty over personal life was hailed by users on social media, describing him as the “selfless sanyasi” and “yogi in a true sense”. Condolence messages keep pouring in, as everyone wishes the Chief Minister strength in this time of grief.