Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) of being a gathering place for criminals and mafia figures.

Speaking at a rally at Tilak Inter College in Hanumanganj, Phulpur, to support BJP candidate Deepak Patel, Adityanath alleged that prominent mafia figures like Atiq Ahmed, Mukhtar Ansari, and Khan Mubarak were all associated with SP. Referring to past high-profile crimes, he stated, “daylight murders of leaders like Krishnanand Rai and Raju Pal took place during SP’s reign.”

He added that during previous SP rule, public funds were funneled to the SP family and their allies, turning the state’s administrative bodies into a “production house for rioters.” He further remarked, “Today’s SP has strayed from the values it was originally founded upon. It has become a refuge for mafia and criminals.”

Adityanath also questioned the Congress party and the INDIA alliance’s stance on Article 370, highlighting a recent Jammu and Kashmir government proposal calling for its reinstatement. He alleged that “Congress and its allies want to reinstate Article 370 to promote terrorism.” Adityanath assured voters that under the Modi administration, the move would never be allowed, and India would continue with “one flag, one Constitution.”

Addressing a crowd alongside BJP leaders and local dignitaries like BJP candidate Deepak Patel, MPs Praveen Patel and Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi and Mayor Ganesh Kesari, Adityanath honored Prayagraj’s cultural and spiritual heritage, calling it a land blessed by the Ganga. He mentioned the special significance of 2025, when Prayagraj will host the Mahakumbh, an event recently recognised as a cultural heritage by UNESCO, thanks to efforts by PM Modi.

Highlighting a decade of progress, Adityanath credited PM Modi’s government for transforming the country’s image and destiny. He pointed out that UP has also seen “double-engine government.”

“Earlier, UP was known for anarchy and riots; women were unsafe, farmers were ignored, and youth couldn’t find jobs,” he said. Under SP rule, he claimed, “even government jobs were auctioned off beforehand, and farmers and the poor did not receive necessary benefits.”

The Chief Minister also criticised SP for straying from the principles upheld by leaders such as Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Janeshwar Mishra, stating, “Today’s SP has lost those ideals and has become a haven for criminals and mafia.”