Claim
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that these opposition leaders (posing as religious figures) are 'Kaalnemi' (a demon who impersonated a sage).
“महंत योगी आदित्यनाथ कह रहे हैं कि ये सब लोग कालनेमी है। क्या वो सही है?”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
Multiple independent Indian outlets confirm that around 30 June 2026 (days before the 2 July broadcast) UP CM Yogi Adityanath publicly used the term 'Kaalnemi'—the demon who disguised himself as a sage—to describe opponents he accused of exploiting or conspiring against Hindu faith, saying Ram bhakti would 'finish off the Kaalnemis.' He also applied the label in the Magh Mela dispute against Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand. The anchor's claim that Yogi called these figures 'Kaalnemi' accurately reflects his statements; the parenthetical gloss (opposition leaders posing as religious figures) matches Yogi's own framing of the term.
Evidence
- https://www.republicbharat.com/india/uttar-pradesh/cm-yogi-rampur-rally-hindu-devotion-ram-knows-who-is-right-or-wrong-cm-yogi-hits-out-at-opposition-2026-06-30-127090 Republic Bharat (30 June 2026) reports CM Yogi Adityanath at a Rampur rally attacking the opposition and saying 'Kaalnemi' figures are bending/exploiting Hindu faith, that Ram bhakti will finish off the 'Kaalnemis', and that people like Kaalnemi will conspire to weaken Sanatan Dharma under the guise of religion. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.tv9hindi.com/india/yogi-adityanath-slams-opposition-ayodhya-kashi-development-is-their-envy-ram-bhakti-kalnemi-3836649.html TV9 Hindi confirms Yogi told a rally that devotion to Ram will 'finish off the Kaalnemis' while accusing the opposition of spreading lies about Ayodhya. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.republicworld.com/india/the-one-calling-me-kalanemi-is-shankaracharya-avimukteshwaranand-hits-back-at-cm-yogi Republic World documents Yogi applying the 'Kaalnemi' label in the religious/Magh Mela dispute, prompting Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand to hit back — corroborating the 'posing as religious figures' framing of the term (Kaalnemi = demon who impersonated a sage). ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.indiatv.in/uttar-pradesh/shankaracharya-avimukteshwaranand-slams-cm-yogi-over-kalnemi-remark-amid-magh-mela-row-2026-01-23-1192701 India TV reports the 'Kaalnemi' remark row and the Shankaracharya's reaction, independently confirming Yogi used the term against those he casts as false religious/opposition actors. ✓ reachable · archived