Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath speaks in the state Legislative Council, in Lucknow on Tuesday (Express Photo)Days after launching an offensive against the Opposition Samajwadi Party for demanding the inclusion of Urdu translation for the Assembly proceedings, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday once again said that his government wants children to become scientists and not “mullah aur maulvis” (clerics).Speaking on the Motion of Thanks on Governor’s address in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council on Tuesday, Adityanath accused the Samajwadi Party of having a “narrow mindset” and said: “Instead of making them (children) into Muslim clerics, we want them to become scientists like APJ Abdul Kalam. There is free education in schools, modernisation of education. The double-engine government is allocating money for this… But the culture of fanaticism will not be allowed.”He said that every child, regardless of their background, will receive quality and modern education without discrimination. He further said that those who prefer religious education can pursue it but those aspiring to become great litterateurs, scientists, mathematicians, teachers, or engineers must embrace modern education.Also Read | ‘Even CM Yogi uses Urdu words in speeches… Govt’s mindset is communal. It is not about language’: UP LoPCalling the “PDA” (Picchda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) pitch of the Samajwadi Party a “dhong” (fraud), the chief minister said that the main Opposition party used to consider minority as their vote bank but even children of minority used to be affected by encephalitis. My government considers all children as children of the state and worked for them and eradicated encephalitis, he added.Speaking about the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, the chief minister said that the event has turned Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura and Gorakhpur into the new “Panch Teerth”.“Uttar Pradesh is ushering in a new era with Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura-Vrindavan, Gorakhpur, and Prayagraj emerging as major pilgrimage centres. The Prayagraj Maha Kumbh has now linked these sacred sites, establishing them as the Panch Teerth,” the CM said and went on to cite the large footfall.Also Read | Maha Kumbh ends today, Varanasi gears up for surge in pilgrims from PrayagrajDrawing a comparison of those visiting Ayodhya with Mecca and Vatican city, the chief minister said that while two crore people visit Vatican City, Prayagraj saw these many pilgrims in just one day. “Ayodhya Dham witnessed it in 52 days. Similar numbers were reported from Varanasi as well,” he added.Story continues below this ad“Prayagraj has shown a mirror to those who used to question the country and Sanatan Dharma,” the chief minister said.Stating that “great endeavours” always go through three phases of “ridicule, opposition and then acceptance”, the CM said, “The Opposition party also first ridiculed and opposed both Ram Temple and Maha Kumbh but later accepted them both calling “Ram” as “Sabke Ram”. Even SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav went to Maha Kumbh to take a dip,” he added.Meanwhile, the chief minister said that his government stands firmly with the family of those who lost their lives in the June 29 stampede at Maha Kumbh and added that there should not be any politics over it.© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd