Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, condemning their approach towards Muslims as “undemocratic and unconstitutional.” He also criticized Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, asserting that a true yogi must uphold the Constitution.
“The BJP wants to start a conspiracy before the elections. Their aim from the very first day has been to defame the socialists, and especially their thinking about Muslims is undemocratic and unconstitutional. If a ‘Yogi’ does not believe in democracy or the Constitution, he cannot be a ‘Yogi’,” Yadav stated.
Yadav’s remarks were in response to the UP government’s handling of the Ayodhya gang rape case, in which a local Samajwadi Party leader was arrested. He also addressed the Hathras stampede, the Lucknow molestation incident, and his controversial demand for a DNA test in the Ayodhya rape case.
“I want to give you examples of three incidents. The first incident is Hathras, in which the BJP MLAs and leaders had written for permission for a program of a Sadhu. But the administration did not make arrangements properly, and as a result, a large number of people lost their lives. Secondly, you must have seen in Gomti Nagar, the police had given the entire list, but the CM and the government of the BJP want the police to become workers of the BJP. When the police gave the list of all the names, then why did the CM take only the names of Yadavs and Muslims?” he questioned.
Yadav further claimed, “The name of the Yadav that was taken, indicates that he was not there in the camera footage. He had gone to have tea and the police found a Yadav, so he was sent to jail. I want to tell you that such people who are violating the law and are working as workers of the BJP, whenever the (SP) government comes, action will be taken against such officers also.”
Addressing his call for a DNA test of the rape victim, which sparked controversy, Yadav defended his stance by pointing out that the UP government amended a law in 2023 to mandate DNA tests in cases involving potential punishments exceeding seven years.
“Then what is wrong with this demand and their family members are also saying and the police know the truth…No matter how much they do, the public has no hope from them,” he added.
Yadav also commented on the Centre’s reported plan to amend the Waqf law, accusing the BJP of focusing solely on undermining the rights of Muslims. “The BJP has no work except snatching the rights of the ‘Muslim brothers’,” he claimed.
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