Noida: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday criticised former Vice-President Hamid Ansari over his remarks on Hindu right-wing communalism, calling them “very unfortunate” and saying they were “against India, Indian culture, and Indian tradition”.Ansari, speaking at an event in Delhi on Saturday, had cited former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s warning that “the real danger to India was not communism, but Hindu right-wing communalism”.Responding to the remarks at the concluding session of the two-day Prerna Vimarsh 2026 at Gautam Buddha University, Adityanath said people who had held high constitutional offices should maintain the dignity of those positions. He also said some people were trying to tarnish India’s image.“Hamid Ansari, who completed his five-year tenure as Vice-President of India, made a statement yesterday. It was a very unfortunate statement… His statements were truly frightening, …against India, Indian culture, and Indian tradition,” he said.The CM also targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his “Chhatron Ki Goonj” event in Indore, referring to a comedian’s remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Calling Gandhi the “Yuvraj” of Congress, Adityanath said the conduct displayed at the event was an “insult to all womankind”. He said Indian culture taught people to offer seats to the elderly, women and differently-abled persons.With the event themed “Naari Samman, Yuva Swabhiman” (respect for women, pride of youth), Adityanath then focused on women’s role in India’s history, citing Meera Bai, Anasuya, philosophers Maitreyi and Gargi, and Rani Lakshmibai.He said three women-only PAC battalions would be named after Rani Avantibai Lodhi, Uda Devi and Jhalkari Bai, women warriors associated with the 1857 uprising. “History has forgotten them, but we haven’t. This will further give strength to our women police personnel,” he said.Adityanath also cited Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, under which eligible beneficiaries receive Rs 5,000 for the first child. He referred to the Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana, under which eligible girls can receive financial assistance totalling up to Rs 25,000 from birth through higher education.He said the Centre had provided LPG connections to 12 crore people who, he claimed, had not received benefits from such schemes in the previous 70 years. “We do not ask the beneficiaries their castes and religion while giving these benefits. But some people always try to malign the country’s image,” he said.Turning to employment, Adityanath said govt had provided jobs to 9.5 lakh people in the past nine years. He said UP’s 96 lakh MSME units now support 3 crore jobs, attributing the expansion to greater use of technology. He said expanding employment and opportunities for young people was central to changing UP’s image, with MSMEs being linked to technology and expanded to create jobs beyond the govt sector.“Earlier, UP was called a bimaru state, which has changed to a revenue-surplus state now,” he said.Later, Adityanath reviewed preparations for the UP international trade show, scheduled from Sept 25-29 at India Expo Mart and Centre in Greater Noida.