Akhilesh Yadav

Efforts on to reduce minorities, Muslims to second-grade citizens: Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged Friday that efforts are underway to reduce the country's minorities, particularly Muslims, to "second-grade" citizens, and claimed their rights and properties are being systematically eroded. Speaking in Lok Sabha during a debate on the Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India', Yadav charged the government with fostering inequality and failing to uphold the constitutional rights of marginalised communities. "This Constitution is our armour, our security. It provides us strength whenever needed. The Constitution is the true guardian of the rights of the oppressed, neglected, suppressed, and deprived. For people like us and the weak in the country, especially for PDA (Pichdde, Dalit and Alpsankhyak), saving the Constitution is a matter of life and death," he said. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister accused the government of neglecting minorities, and said their rights and properties are being systematically ...

SP decides to walk out of MVA after Babri demolition post by Uddhav's aide

The Samajwadi Party announced on Saturday that it would walk out of the opposition MVA after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's close aide hailed the demolition of Babri mosque and a related newspaper advertisement. The Samajwadi Party has two MLAs in Maharashtra. "An advertisement was given by Shiv Sena (UBT) in a newspaper congratulating those who demolished Babri masjid. His (Uddhav Thackeray) aide has also posted on X hailing the demolition of the mosque," Maharashtra SP unit chief Abu Azmi said. "We are quitting the MVA. I am speaking to (Samajwadi Party president) Akhilesh Singh Yadav," Azmi told PTI. The SP's move comes in response to Sena (UBT) MLC Milind Narvekar's post on Babri masjid demolition. Narvekar has posted a photo of the demolition of the mosque accompanied by Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's quote" "I am proud of those who did this". The Shiv Sena (UBT) secretary also posted images of Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray and himself in the post. "If an

Akhilesh Yadav slams Union govt over reports of GST hike on various items

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday attacked the BJP government at the Centre on reports that the GST on several items might be hiked, saying the BJP plans to "increase corruption" instead of increasing revenue. In a post on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, "BJP was saying 'one country, one tax' but this statement of theirs also turned out to be a 'jumlaai jhoot' (rhetoric) because now they are bringing new slabs of tax." "When there is 'one tax, many slabs' then the slogan of 'one tax' has proved to be a lie in the true sense. Actually, there is a big game behind increasing the tax rates. This is the BJP's plan to increase corruption instead of increasing revenue to do 'vasuli' (extort money) from shopkeepers and businessmen through the officials by exerting more pressure on them," he charged. His remarks come after reports that the GoM on GST rate rationalisation has suggested tax rate on sin goods like aerated beverages, cigarettes, tobacco and ..

SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood asks UP govt to send political delegation to Sambhal

Samajwadi Party MLA Iqbal Mehmood has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to send a political delegation to meet the families of victims of the November 24 violence in Sambhal district. Talking to reporters on Wednesday evening, the Sambhal MLA alleged the BJP wants to divide people and as a result, the country is lagging behind. On Wednesday, a delegation of Congress leaders led by Rahul Gandhi on its way to Sambhal was stopped by Uttar Pradesh Police at Ghazipur border here amid a ban on the entry of outsiders in the district. Last week, several Samajwadi Party (SP) MPs were stopped from entering the district. "The government should send its political delegation here to meet families of victims and send out a message that everyone should live together with unity," Mehmood said. He said the BJP should follow RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's advice that there is no need to look for shivling in every mosque. "It should be followed to avoid spread of hatred in society and increase brotherh

Rahul to visit violence-hit Sambhal today amid ban on entry of outsiders

A Congress delegation led by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit the violence-hit Sambhal on Wednesday, with police and administration geared up to stop them before reaching the district. Prohibitory orders, including a ban on the entry of outsiders, are in place in Sambhal. Last week, several Samajwadi Party (SP) MPs were stopped from entering the district. Curbs under Section 163 (power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which were set to expire on Sunday, have now been extended till December 31 in Sambhal. Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia on Tuesday wrote a letter to the police commissioners of Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad and the superintendents of police of Amroha and Bulandshahr districts, urging them to stop Gandhi at the borders of their districts keeping in mind the "communal sensitivity" of Sambhal. Gandhi will be accompanied by five other Congress MPs

Sambhal violence was pre-planned, aimed to disturb harmony: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday claimed the violence in Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh was well-planned and aimed at disturbing communal harmony in a place that has long been a symbol of brotherhood. He also claimed that the court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid could hurt the 'Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb' of the country. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, the MP from Kannauj said Sambhal is known for its brotherhood and this "well-planned" violence has impacted that harmony. "The incident that took place was a planned conspiracy. The BJP and its allies have been talking about digging and their repeated talks of digging (the area) will hurt the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb of the country," Yadav said. He alleged the Sambhal administration acted in haste and demanded suspension of the officers concerned and filing of a case against them. "This government doesn't respect the Constitution," the SP leader charged. On November 19, a court of civil judge (senio

Oppn MPs, Rahul Gandhi, stage walkout in Lok Sabha over Sambhal violence

Almost the entire opposition in the Lok Sabha, including Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday staged a brief walkout from the House over the recent violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal. As soon as the House assembled to take up the Question Hour, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav rose from his seat and raised the issue, seeking Speaker Om Birla's permission to speak on the subject. "This is a very serious matter. Five people have lost their lives," Yadav was heard saying. As the Speaker said members could raise the issue in the Zero Hour, Yadav and his party colleagues started to walk out in protest. Some SP members, meanwhile, rushed to the Well, raising slogans. While the SP members were protesting in the Well of the House, DMK member A Raja was seen exhorting other opposition members, including those from the Congress, to rise from their seats and join the SP protest. NCP and Shiv Sena-UBT members stood up in support of the Samajwadi Party MPs. Some of the

Sambhal DM asked me not to visit, says SP leader Mata Prasad Pandey

Earlier, SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav also launched an attack against the administration in the stone pelting incident in Sambhal and alleged that the administration had deliberately created unrest

Newly elected BJP, RLD MLAs in UP administered oath by Assembly Speaker

Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana on Friday administered the oath to the newly elected BJP and RLD MLAs. Voting for the by-elections in nine seats of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly was held on November 20 and the results were declared on November 23. In the by-elections, six MLAs of the BJP and one of its alliance partner Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) were elected. The Samajwadi Party stood victorious in two seats Karhal and Sisamau. On Friday, newly elected MLAs Ramveer Singh from Kundarki, Deepak Patel from Phulpur, Surendra Singh from Khair, Sanjeev Sharma from Ghaziabad, Dharmaraj Nishad from Katehari, Suchismita Maurya from Majhawan (all BJP) and Mithlesh Pal of the RLD from Meerapur took oath in the Assembly. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was present on the occasion, congratulated the winning candidates and called it a victory of the state's development and people's faith. Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, Uttar Pradesh BJP

CM Yogi urges citizens to uphold Constitution while Akhilesh slams BJP

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday urged citizens to uphold the ideals of the Constitution, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed the BJP for allegedly undermining constitutional values while making a show of celebrating Constitution Day. The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution at the Central Hall of Parliament on November 26, 1949. It came into force on January 26, 1950. The day of its adoption is observed as 'Samvidhan Divas'. CM Adityanath extended his greetings to the people of the state on social media platform X, describing the Constitution as an all-inclusive, all-beneficial document. "Our all-inclusive, all-beneficial Constitution, which strengthens respect and faith in the great democratic values in the mind of every citizen, is a sacred expression of the highest ideals, civic duties and rights," he said in a post on X in Hindi. "Come, keeping in view the national interest and public interest, let us all take a pledge to follow t

UP bypoll result: BJP clinches 6 out of 9 seats, SP saves Akhilesh's Karhal

UP bye-election results 2024: The BJP has emerged victorious, securing six seats. Meanwhile, the SP secured Karhal and Sishamau seats

Akhilesh Yadav slams UP bypolls as 'distorted electoral politics'

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday termed the Uttar Pradesh bypolls as the "most distorted form of electoral politics". In a post on X in Hindi, Akhilesh Yadav said, "The tactics of those who have made 'election' synonymous with 'corruption' have been captured in photographs and exposed before the world," he said. "The world, the country and Uttar Pradesh saw the most distorted form of electoral politics in this by-election. There may be a time for lies but not an era," he said in his post. "Now the real struggle has begun. Tighten your fist and make the PDA proclaim 'If we join, we will win!'," Akhilesh Yadav said in his post. According to the Election Commission, the Samajwadi Party candidate Naseem Solanki from Sishamau won the seat by a margin of 8,564 votes. She defeated BJP's Suresh Awasthi. Solanki's husband Irfan Solanki won the seat in 2012, 2017 and 2022. The bypolls held on Wednesday were necessitated due to Irfan Solanki's disqualification from the Assem

Recruitment via outsourcing under BJP an 'economic conspiracy': Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said providing jobs was not on the BJP government's agenda, and added that recruitment to government posts via outsourcing was an "economic conspiracy" against marginalised people. Yadav shared on social media platform X a newspaper clipping and an advertisement that said the posts of Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar, Revenue Inspector and Lekhpal were being filled through outsourcing. This was a move to snatch the constitutional right of job reservation, he said in a post on X. "It would be better if the BJP outsources the entire 'government' so that all its commissions come from one place. By doing this, the BJP will not have to take the great trouble of giving a small number of jobs while ending reservations under its pretext," he posted in Hindi. "We have always been saying, we are repeating it again today: jobs are not on the agenda of the BJP," he said. The SP chief further said outsourcing is an economic conspiracy against

UP bypolls controversy: ECI warns against bias, suspends 7 police officers

The Election Commission has suspended seven police officers in Uttar Pradesh over allegations of voter suppression during bypolls, warning against bias and ensuring fair elections

BJP, allies distancing from UP CM's 'Batoge toh katoge' slogan: Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said the BJP and its allies have started to distance themselves from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's "Batoge toh katoge" slogan. Yadav termed the slogan -- given by Adityanath in a call apparently to Hindus to stay united -- as "unconstitutional" and the "most negative" in the history of the country. Addressing a gathering in the Bakshi Ka Talab area here, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, "The chief minister's slogan is like the British's divide and rule policy. The British have left but people with their thinking are taking their ideas forward". "Batoge to katoge is the most negative and unconstitutional slogan in the country's history. The BJP leaders and its allies are distancing themselves from the slogan," he added. Taking a veiled jibe at Adityanath, the SP chief said without taking any names that one becomes a 'yogi' by one's thoughts and words, not clothes. He said the BJP knows that it is going to

Govt that conducts encounters doesn't trust Constitution: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday criticized the BJP-led government, accusing it of undermining the Constitution while emphasizing his party's commitment to safeguarding democracy. "The government that does encounters doesn't trust the Constitution," said Yadav during a public rally in support of Dr Charu Kain, the Samajwadi Party candidate for Khair constituency. "We have worked to educate people about the Constitution and the INDIA alliance has gained widespread support. But that doesn't mean the ruling party cannot meddle with it. We, the Samajwadi Party, will continue to protect the Constitution and our democracy," he added. Taking a jibe at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Yadav said, "Sadhus and saints speak less, but in 'kalyug' (the current age), they are speaking more." "Those we once thought would speak the truth have become the peddlers of lies," he added. Escalating his attack, Yadav said, "Our chief minister is laying explosive (gunpowder

Prayagraj UPPSC protest: Cops register FIR against 12 for vandalisation

The protest by candidates demanding "one day, one shift exams" has been going on for the past two days outside the commission's office in Prayagraj

Jobs will come when BJP goes: Akhilesh over protests on UPPSC exam dates

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said the BJP kept people preoccupied with the struggle for livelihood so it could carry out its communal politics. He said that jobs will only be created when the BJP is ousted. "If the BJP had governed with the same intensity with which it is running the bulldozer of injustice, today its members wouldn't have to hide in their homes, fearing the anger of students," he said. Yadav's remarks come amid ongoing protests by aspirants in Prayagraj over the decision of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) to conduct the Review Officer (RO) and Assistant Review Officer (ARO) and Provincial Civil Service (PCS) preliminary exams on different dates. "For years, either vacancies are not released, or the examination process is delayed. The BJP has distracted students from their studies and forced them to protest in the streets," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister wrote in a post on X. "Today, the atmosphere has become Yogi vs.

Dharmendra Yadav warns against dividing voters with 'batenge toh' slogan

Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav has accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of spreading hatred with his "batenge toh katenge (divided we fall)" remark and said such attempts to divide voters would be rejected in the upcoming byelections. He said that the "PDA people" -- Pichhade' (backward classes), 'Dalit' and 'Alpsankhyak' (minorities) -- are standing firmly with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and will ensure his party's victory in the November 13 bypolls to nine assembly seats. "The chief minister has forgotten that the PDA people were ignored by his government and the Centre but they are united and are not going to be divided by his speeches. "PDA people are standing unitedly with Akhilesh Yadav and when election results come, you will see what people have decided," Yadav told reporters here on Monday evening. On party leader Shivpal Yadav's statement that those who make '"batenge toh katenge statements, woh pitenge' (those who make such statements will

Maharashtra polls: Akhilesh calls for unity against Mahayuti for change

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday called for forging a collective strategy and making a united effort to oust the Mahayuti alliance from power in Maharashtra in the upcoming assembly elections. He also slammed the BJP, which is part of the Mahayuti alliance along with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and expressed his commitment to defeating the "enemies of Maharashtra and bring about a positive change". Yadav, whose party won two seats in the last Maharashtra polls and is eying a bigger share in the seat-sharing talks with its alliance partners, took to social media to share a note addressed to the "dear" people of the state and media persons. "With your awareness, the Maharashtra Assembly elections will liberate 'Maharashtra' from the BJP's conspiracies of sabotage and its negative politics of communalism. The BJP's negative politics is unable to understand the positive strategy and mutual adjustment of the united opposition. The BJP's ..