Day After Being Painted Saffron, Lucknow Hajj House Walls Turn Off-White

Lucknow: The boundary walls of the UP State Hajj Committee in Lucknow once again got a new coat of paint on Saturday - this time off-white – as the authorities went in damage control mode after inviting criticism for painting them in saffron shade.

Secretary of the UP State Hajj Committee, RP Singh, blamed the contractor for painting the “non-prescribed” shade. “The wall colouring work was going on and the contractor was told to paint a different colour, but the contractor coloured the walls in a different shade,” he said in a press release.

Now, fresh orders have been given to the contractor for the rectification process. Authorities said strict action will be taken against for laxity in work.

The walls of the Hajj House were earlier green and white in colour but were painted saffron in the middle of the night. Saffron is the favourite colour of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and can also be seen now on the outer walls of the state secretariat in Lucknow.

The boundary wall of the Hajj House was painted saffron on Friday night. (Network18)

The move had prompted the Samajwadi Party to accuse the government of “saffronisation” after a series of steps perceived as “anti-minority”. SP MLC and Spokesperson, Sunil Singh Sajan, accused the Yogi Government of doing ‘colour’ politics.

“The government is doing politics of colours and trying to hide its failures. Saffron is the colour of faith for us, but can it give food to the hungry? Or medicine to the ill? If colouring everything saffron had been of any help, Yogi should have achieved so much in 10 months. He wears saffron from head to toe. Still he has not been able to do anything for the people of the state,” he told News18.

The only Muslim Minister in the state government, Mohsin Raza, however said that people should not have any problem with the colour and it is one that signifies positivity.

“There is no need for any controversy in such things. Saffron is a vibrant and energetic colour. The building now looks beautiful. Opposition parties have no issues to raise against us, which is why they are raising such things,” he said.