Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday unleashed a sharp critique of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the ruling party of engineering the recent violence in Sambhal as part of a “government conspiracy.”
The incident, which claimed five lives, was not a communal riot but a “pre-planned act” allegedly executed with the involvement of local administration, Yadav charged.
Speaking at a press conference, Yadav alleged that the BJP was stoking unrest and targeting innocent citizens in Sambhal. “When an SP delegation tried to visit Sambhal, they were blocked by authorities.
What is the government hiding?” he asked. According to him, the violence was deliberately orchestrated to disturb communal harmony in Uttar Pradesh.
The SP leader also condemned a controversial survey conducted at the Shahi Jama Masjid, a Mughal-era mosque, calling it a ploy to implicate innocent people. “The Places of Worship Act, 1991, prohibits such surveys. What urgency drove this? It was a calculated act that led to violence,” he asserted.
Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey bolstered Yadav’s claims while presenting a report on the incident.
He alleged that the mosque survey team included BJP members and accused the police of using excessive force. “Instead of resorting to tear gas, they fired bullets, escalating tensions and disrupting peace,” Pandey said.
The violence broke out on November 24 when a team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) arrived at the Shahi Jama Masjid. The SP has alleged that the survey, conducted despite legal constraints, was part of a broader scheme to ignite communal unrest. Yadav didn’t mince words while criticizing the BJP’s handling of the situation.
“Life has no value under this government. This is a heartless regime devoid of empathy. Justice and public grievances are meaningless to them,” he remarked. He also took aim at the BJP for alleged corruption and its neglect of backward classes, Dalits, and minorities (PDA).
“Even BJP leaders are accusing each other of corruption. Their internal strife is visible in both Delhi and Lucknow,” Yadav said.
Shifting focus to the by-elections for nine Assembly seats, Yadav accused the BJP of manipulating the electoral process. “The administration actively suppressed voting. People were intimidated, and police prevented them from reaching polling booths.
Let the media visit Milkipur to witness the BJP’s idea of democracy,” he alleged.
The SP chief also targeted Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over allegations of cow slaughter.
“A BJP MLA claims 50,000 cows are being slaughtered. If that’s true, what is the so-called Sanatani CM doing? And if the MLA is wrong, why hasn’t the government responded?” he questioned.
Highlighting administrative lapses, Yadav pointed to the demolition of an ASI-protected building in Agra. “The structure was brought down by someone with connections to officials, all for business expansion. This is a glaring example of negligence,” he said.
Wrapping up, Yadav appealed for accountability and urged religious leaders to demand transparency from the government. “I request saints and sages attending the Kumbh to question those in power.
Many of them are involved in activities they should not be, impacting governance and society," he concluded.
