Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that under previous governments, land mafias had illegally occupied several sacred sites in Prayagraj, severely undermining their sanctity. He emphasised that during the Maha Kumbh, these sites, including Akshay Vat, Saraswati Koop, Patalpuri, Shringverpur, Dwadash Madhav, and Bhagwan Beni Madhav, were freed from mafia control, allowing devotees to visit them throughout the year. Speaking at the 'Manthan: Kumbh and Beyond' event organised by RSS-linked media 'Panchjanya' and 'Organiser' in Lucknow, CM Adityanath said that the Maha Kumbh showcased India's cultural strength and the true essence of the Sanatan Dharma while also transforming Uttar Pradesh's "negative image". Adityanath said that Prayagraj, the land of the world's first Gurukul, had been overrun by mafias under past governments. He said that Akshay Vat was confined and nearly destroyed during the colonial rule, depriving devotees of its darshan for 500 ...