Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], September 1 : Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai has filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his alleged remarks regarding the "fish feast" controversy in Ayodhya.
Rai reached the MP-MLA court in Lucknow today and initiated legal proceedings against the Chief Minister, alleging that the remarks were baseless and had hurt his religious sentiments.
The controversy pertains to an alleged fish feast in Ayodhya, following which Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had made allegations against the Congress.
Rai denied the allegations and said he does not consume non-vegetarian food.
Speaking to ANI here, Rai said, "We do not eat non-vegetarian food. The allegation of a fish feast against me is wrong. The Chief Minister's statement has hurt my faith."
"He said he had approached the court to seek legal action over the allegations. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should provide proof of the fish feast. That is why I have filed a defamation case," Rai said.
Rai's advocate Sanjiv Pandey said the legal proceedings were initiated against the Chief Minister over the alleged defamatory remarks.

"Rai said he would pursue the matter through legal channels and sought accountability for what he termed false allegations. The case is now before the MP-MLA court in Lucknow, where further proceedings are expected", he further said.
On August 24, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a sharp attack on state Congress president Ajay Rai over the alleged fish feast at a programme in Ayodhya, accusing the Congress leader of displaying "duplicity" by visiting Hanumangarhi to offer prayers and subsequently attending a programme where fish was allegedly served.
Yogi made the remarks while addressing a gathering in Raebareli, where he also criticised the Congress party's political conduct and its approach towards religion and law and order.
"You saw the behaviour of the Congress state president: he goes to offer prayers at Hanumangarhi, but later outside he enjoys a feast of fish. He could have eaten whatever he wanted outside-anywhere other than Ayodhya. Yet, this is the duplicity they display," Yogi said.
Taking a sharper swipe at Rai, the Chief Minister said, "Even a chameleon would be put to shame by these people; it would wonder what kind of human species this is-chanting 'Ram-Ram' inside the temple and feasting on fish the moment they step out."
Yogi described the alleged incident as reflective of what he called the Congress leader's political history and also levelled allegations against Rai over his alleged conduct in connection with a past incident involving a mafia figure.
He said, "When a mafia don murdered his brother, this man did not testify against the criminal; instead, he knelt and bowed in submission before him."
Yogi further claimed that the situation changed only after government action against the alleged mafia element.
"It was only when the government stepped in and crushed that mafia element that the situation changed; otherwise, these people had turned the state into a mafia-dominated territory, creating an identity crisis," he said.
The remarks came after Rai attended a programme in Ayodhya organised by members of the Nishad community. The alleged fish feast subsequently became a political issue, with the BJP and Congress trading accusations over the event.