By Prashant Srivastava / India Today
The Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), an outfit founded by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath back in 2002, is planning an image overhaul, from a lathi-wielding vigilante group to a Hindutva organisation with strict membership rules and streamlined operations. The revamp syncs with the BJP’s planned outreach among various social groups in UP in preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
HYV functionaries claim the group may even go for a name change to break away from its past image. Recently, the HYV dissolved all its organisational units to pave the way for a new structure.
Sources in the Yuva Vahini claim the decision has Adityanath’s consent. The main issue appears to be the bad press the organisation attracted in recent years owing to its vigilantism in the name of furthering the Hindu cause. This, they say, was going against the state government’s messaging of zero tolerance towards lawbreakers under Adityanath’s rule, especially since the organisation was founded by him.
Earlier, several functionaries of the outfit had left and created a breakaway group by the name of ‘Hindu Yuva Vahini (Bharat)’. Sunil Singh, chief of this faction, claims: “After becoming chief minister in 2017, Yogi Adityanath started ignoring many HYV leaders. The outfit strayed away from its agenda, which is why I left it and launched the Hindu Yuva Vahini (Bharat).”
This story was originally published in indiatoday.in . Read the full story here