‘Look at our pictures and decide’: Akhilesh Yadav’s new ‘mafia’ attack on Yogi Adityanath | Latest News India

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday hit out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adithyanath, reiterating his recent comment that there is not much difference between a mathematics (head of a street dog) and a mafia.

When asked about his comment, Akhilesh Yadav said: “Meri bhi tasveer dekhlo aap aur unki bhi dekhlo, mafia kon lagenga yeh bata do (Just look at my picture and his and tell me who is considered mafia),” which elicited laughter from other SP leaders present at the press conference.

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The remarks came a day after Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Gangwar accused Akhilesh Yadav of being a mafia leader and criminals. Gangwar alleged that Yadav had lost his mental balance after the recent Lok Sabha elections, resulting in erratic statements.

“People have seen his relationship with people like Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari,” he said, adding, “a donkey will see others as donkeys.” He suggested that Yadav’s perceptions are influenced by his own experiences in office. “He himself is a leader of mafias and criminals,” the minister alleged.

On Wednesday, Adityanath also accused the SP of intimidating criminals and belittling religious leaders.

“Samajwadi Party members rubbed their noses at notorious mafias and criminals. As per their culture, they call religious leaders mafias,” Adityanath said at an event, referring to Yadav’s controversial statement.

“They exploited the youth, forced farmers to commit suicide and traders were forced to migrate and incidents like Kairana (exodus) took place because of them. Hindu traders had to leave Kairana because of them,” he added.

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Without naming Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, Yogi Adityanath criticised the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, saying that “Do ladkon ki jodi” (two boys) is about development in Uttar Pradesh and they have forgotten the history of the last decade when ‘gunda’ and ‘mafia raj’ were prevalent in the state.

VHP condemns Akhilesh Yadav’s statement

Yadav’s comments are equated mathematics with mafia have also drawn the ire of Hindu organisations. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) strongly condemned his remark and demanded an apology from the SP leader, terming his statement “highly objectionable and offensive”.

“This is not the first time that Akhilesh Yadav has insulted Hindu beliefs and saints to please his vote bank. He should apologise to the entire Hindu community, including the revered saints,” said Surendra Jain, joint general secretary of the VHP.

He accused the INDIA alliance, of which SP is a member, of remaining silent on the issue.

“It appears that the Sanatan Hindu community is being insulted by a well-thought-out plot,” he said.

“Akhilesh Yadav and the leaders of his alliance should apologise to the entire Hindu community, including the revered saints, for his anti-Hindu statement, otherwise the Hindu community will not tolerate this insult and will give a befitting reply through all democratic means,” the VHP functionary added.