NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday hit back at Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath for his ‘mafia and criminals are SP’s gale ka haar’ remark and said that the CM doesn’t see the mirror before commenting.
While addressing a rally at Ambedkar Nagar, Akhilesh Yadav said, “The voice of the Lucknow engine (UP government) has changed as the elections (UP Bypolls) approach. Are they talking about any development? They say that Samajwadi people are mafia and goons and what not. But the truth is that when the Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) leaves his house, he does not look in the mirror. “
He further said that only the SP has done a good thing for the police and no other else have done anything for them.
His remarks came after Yogi said criminals, mafias are the necklaces (gale ka haar) of the party that has a single ideology of “sabka sath and Saifai Pariwar ka vikas.”
Yogi on Saturday said, “Samajwadi Party is pained when the government tightens the noose around goons, mafias and rioters. But the state govt will not allow anti-social elements like mining and copying mafias to thrive.”
Parade of ‘party power’ to win people’s trust: Akhilesh Yadav accuses BJP
Earlier today, while addressing the rally at Yadav criticised the BJP government for deploying a large police force in the Kundarki assembly constituency of Moradabad district, Uttar Pradesh, ahead of the November 20 by-elections.
On X, Yadav shared a video stating, “Don’t make the mistake of considering this as war-level preparation on the China border, this is Kundarki in UP where assembly bye-election is being held.”
He alleged that electoral malpractices occur under BJP governance, and the public has lost confidence in the law enforcement system.
He stated on X that this display of force aims to rebuild public trust.
He noted that according to media reports, this exercise serves to intimidate rather than reassure, potentially benefiting the ruling party by discouraging voter turnout.
Yadav suggested that reduced voter participation could facilitate electoral manipulation. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that citizens would participate actively to vote against the BJP.
He wrote, “In this regard, there is a request filled with a warning to the Election Commission to foil this conspiracy to reduce voting. This time the public will be deployed with their mobile cameras and will not rest until any person at any level who creates disturbance is taken to court and punished.”
He concluded by saying, “The public has accepted the slogan ‘Matdaan Bhi, Saavdhaan Bhi’ (vote and be cautious) and is ready to do anything to protect its vote. This time the BJP electoral scammers should wish luck for themselves.”