Raebareli (UP): Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has accused the BJP-led NDA government of destroying the sanctity of the Ganges claiming that MV Ganga Vilas, the world’s longest river cruise, flagged off by PM Narendra Modi on Friday, has bars, media reported.

Alleging that the BJP only reinaugurated a cruise that has been in service for the past 17 years, he said that the government only added a few additional things to it, including bars that serve alcohol.

Addressing media persons in Raebareli, the SP chief said that this river cruise has been running for many years and someone told him it has already been there for 17 years.

“They (BJP) had just added some part of it and said that we have started it. The BJP is far ahead in campaigning and lying. I have also heard that cruise sailing on the holy river Ganga is not only a cruise but also has bars that serve alcohol," the former UP chief minister was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

"The BJP has been re-inaugurating the existing things during campaigning for the purpose of elections," he added.

While taking a boat ride on the river, one listened to aarti on Maa Ganga and other devotional songs, he said. People would also explain things that could be done and those to be avoided while sailing on the river as it is a religious place.

“Only BJP people can now tell if there is a bar on the cruise. We have not yet entered it," he added.

Yadav has also alleged that the BJP is converting the religious places into tourist places.

On Wednesday, just days ahead of the inauguration of MV Ganga Vilas by PM Modi, he tweeted, “Now, will the BJP take away the jobs of the sailors as well? The BJP's policy of earning money by making religious places tourist places is condemnable. People from all over the world come to experience the spiritual splendour of Kashi, not for luxury. The BJP will no longer be able to cover the darkness of real issues with external glare.”

MV Ganga Vilas will begin its journey from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and travel around 3,200 km in 51 days to reach Dibrugarh in Assam via Bangladesh, sailing across 27 river systems in India and Bangladesh.

MV Ganga Vilas has three decks, 18 suites on board with a capacity of 36 tourists, with all the luxury amenities, the ANI report said. 

The maiden voyage has 32 tourists from Switzerland signing up for the entire length of the journey, according to the report.