Proud to have been born as Kshatriya, but I am a yogi now: UP CM Adityanath

"I am proud I was born in the Kshatriya caste. But I have become a monk. I do not promote casteism. I have shed my name and surname," Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday, February 17, said that he was proud to have been born in the Kshatriya caste, but sought to shed that identity now as he is a monk.

“I am proud I was born in the Kshatriya caste. But I became a monk. I am identified as a yogi now. I serve the people as a yogi. A true Kshatriya is one who is dedicated to protecting the poor and downtrodden,” Yogi Adityanth said in an exclusive interaction with India Today TV.

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"I do not promote casteism. I write my name as Yogi Adityanath. I have shed my name and surname. I was born Ajay Singh Bisht, but now I am Yogi Adityanath. I am proud that I was born in an ‘uttam kul’ (superior caste),” the UP CM said.

“The Mahabharata says ‘Durlabham bharate janma, manushyam tatra durlabham’, which means taking birth in Bharata [India] is very difficult and over that, taking birth as a human is extremely rare! I believe every citizen of India was born in a superior caste. We, as Indians, are lucky to have been born in this country,” CM Adityanath said.

He also dismissed any speculation of a Brahmin-vs-Rajput fight in the state.

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