GORAKHPUR, Dec. 3 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday described Sanatan Dharma as "the religion dedicated to the welfare and uplift of human life."

He made the remark in Gorakhpur where he arrived on a two-day visit and paid tribute to the late Mahant Ramdas of the Madariya Siddhapeeth and Mahant Panchanan Puri of the Ram Math who passed away recently.

At Madariya Siddhapeeth in Gola tehsil, Adityanath offered floral homage to Mahant Ramdas, who passed away in the last week of November. He said Mahant Ramdas had devoted his entire life to the service of Sanatan and Vedic values.

Addressing the gathering, he noted that Mahant Ramdas had a close association with the Gorakh Peeth for nearly five decades. He recalled meeting the...