Akhilesh backs AI for public good, attacks BJP over Saharanpur mosque demolition

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said artificial intelligence (AI) should be used for the welfare of society, including healthcare, agriculture and weather forecasting.

"Jo samaaj mein laaye achhaai, woh hai AI. AI se aaye achhaai (one which brings goodness to society is AI)," Yadav told reporters here.

He said AI could help farmers secure better prices for their produce and protect crops by providing weather-related predictions.

Yadav also alleged that AI was being misused for political purposes, accusing the ruling BJP of using government resources to create videos targeting the opposition.

"AI should be used for good, not for negative politics. Our opposition, who are currently in power and using government money, grains and budgets for various activities, are conspiring and creating videos using AI. If they produce such videos, we will produce them too. We will create songs even better than theirs," he said.

Yadav also questioned the demolition of a mosque in Saharanpur, asking why it had to be razed within 12 hours when the high court and Supreme Court could have been approached.

He alleged that the demolition was part of a planned strategy and conspiracy.

In a post on X, Yadav said the Saharanpur mosque demolition had attracted attention worldwide and tarnished India's secular image.

He alleged that the "communal BJP government" in Uttar Pradesh and some "communal" officials were involved and demanded that their identities be disclosed. Yadav said his party would help reveal their names if the government did not know who was responsible.

The SP chief said he would write to the President of India against what he described as a "malicious criminal act" and seek the strictest punishment.

He also alleged that the constitutional system in Uttar Pradesh had completely broken down under the BJP government. He said he would appeal to the President to protect the constitutional order.

Yadav further accused the BJP government of having no answer to inflation, no clear plan for employment and failing to attract investment. He also said the government had made no significant impact on the international stage.

"Even if any guilty person escapes today, they will not escape tomorrow," Yadav said in his X post.

He said the SP would work to promote brotherhood and ensure respect for all religions.

Yadav also asked party workers to remain alert to what he called the BJP's "communalism", saying it begins with language and is followed by action. 

The SP chief reiterated his demand for a caste census, saying representation, rights and respect should correspond to population.

"We also demand a caste census, so that rights and respect are granted according to the population. Reservation was there, reservation is there, and reservation will remain," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.

Yadav said the Kushwaha, Shakya, Maurya and Saini communities make up a significant share of the population but alleged that their numbers have been undercounted.

He said these communities should be properly counted and given rights and respect according to their population share.

Yadav also said the "tunnel-like" (surangvaadi) mindset of those opposing reservation would not be allowed to prevail.

He accused the BJP of being "bankrupt" and alleged that state assets were being sold for the benefit of people close to the party.

"Someone is selling major assets, while smaller ones are selling smaller items. Some are selling from Delhi, others from Lucknow. The public is now going to give treatment to these sellers," he said.

"I would tell the BJP folks that if Maa Ganga calls, don't go via the Ganga Expressway," Yadav said, apparently referring to a recent cave-in on the Ganga Expressway in Unnao after heavy rain created a seven-foot-deep pit.

Yadav said the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) alliance was coming together around the issue of social justice.

He also said the SP had decided that a holiday would be declared on Emperor Ashoka Jayanti and that a memorial for Babu Jagdev Kushwaha Ji would be built at the riverfront.  (with inputs from PTI)