Lucknow: Political tensions in Uttar Pradesh escalated on Sunday as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on the opposition Samajwadi Party and its chief Akhilesh Yadav. Speaking at a public event, he claimed that the state's electorate will completely wipe out the Samajwadi Party in the upcoming assembly elections. He accused the opposition outfit of never prioritizing the welfare of the poor and holding back the state's progress due to narrow family interests.
The Chief Minister was addressing an event in Lucknow organized for honoring midday meal cooks and distributing cashless medical facility cards. During his address, Yogi Adityanath announced that his administration is providing social security guarantees to the cooks working in government primary schools. He announced several welfare measures, including an increase in their honorarium, a financial assistance of two lakh rupees in case of accidents, cashless medical treatment up to five lakh rupees, and doubling the saree allowance from 500 rupees to 1,000 rupees.
'The Poor Were Never on the Agenda of SP'
Targeting the opposition, the Chief Minister stated that these welfare steps could have been implemented much earlier, but the poor were simply never part of the party's agenda. Taking a jibe at the party chief, Yogi Adityanath remarked that he had read a recent statement where the leader claimed the party survives because all his family members are members of parliament. He retorted that the party exists only because the public has decided to wipe it out permanently in the upcoming polls.
Criticism of Daily Routine and Lifestyle
The Chief Minister also took a swipe at the opposition leader's daily schedule and lifestyle. He remarked that someone who wakes up at noon, takes until two o'clock to get ready, visits a gymnasium at five in the evening, and spends nights in social gatherings would naturally have no time to spare for the development of the state. He asserted that while previous administrations lacked the vision and time for public welfare, the current government has concrete plans to resolve public grievances and uplift every section of society.
Comparing Uttar Pradesh Before and After 2017
Highlighting the transformation of the state, Yogi Adityanath alleged that during the previous tenure, land grabbing of the poor was rampant, women's safety was deeply compromised, and riots were a regular routine. He claimed that Uttar Pradesh has now transformed into a riot-free and curfew-free state, where improved law and order has accelerated overall development.
The Chief Minister added that prior to 2017, many basic education council schools wore a deserted and dilapidated look. Through the 'Operation Kayakalp' initiative, infrastructure and facilities are being upgraded across schools based on 19 specific parameters. He emphasized that the government is continuously working to support every segment of society and individuals contributing to the progress of the state.
A day prior on Saturday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had targeted the ruling party through a post on X. He stated that reservation existed, exists, and will continue to exist, alleging that the ruling party wants to abolish it altogether. He added that reservation is the right of the PDA, and under the guise of reservation reforms, a deep conspiracy is being hatched against these communities. He claimed that the ruling alliance opposes reservations by using vague terms like review and reform.
