BJP is India’s biggest crisis, has no agenda beyond hate: Akhilesh
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday described the BJP as the "biggest crisis" facing the country and alleged that the ruling party had no agenda other than spreading hatred.
Yadav, who was in his native village Saifai in Etawah district on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, made the remarks while interacting with the media.
"There is only one crisis in the country, and that is the BJP. The BJP itself is the biggest crisis. If the BJP goes, the crisis will go," he said.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister alleged that the BJP had no work apart from "spreading hatred" and accused it of "selling" the legacy of socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan.
He said the BJP, when it was formed, had displayed a photograph of Narayan in an attempt to project itself as a socialist party, but had now "sold" the Jayaprakash Narayan International Convention Centre (JPNIC).
"Nobody is even willing to buy the BJP; otherwise, the BJP would have sold itself," Yadav said sarcastically.
On inflation, the SP chief alleged that the government was allowing prices of essential commodities and fuel to rise to benefit industrialists.
"Where sugar is concerned, sugar has become expensive. The government is mixing ethanol in petrol. There is a law governing adulteration; legally, you cannot adulterate. But under a well-thought-out strategy, to benefit certain people and to obtain election donations, the government has given industrialists a free hand to make profits," he alleged. Yadav claimed that sugar, diesel and petrol were being sold at higher prices to enable companies to make profits, and said inflation was rising because of the government's policies.
He also alleged that medicines were being sold at high prices, ambulances were not functioning properly and police personnel were demanding money from people.
Yadav further alleged that the money meant for construction of expressways had been misappropriated and questioned why the government was not being held accountable.
The SP chief also alleged that restrictions on the media had increased despite India becoming independent.
"Even though the British left India after the country became independent, we have still not become free. There are still many restrictions. You cannot show photographs of schools, you cannot show the poor condition of schools. Any journalist who shows the poor condition of a school will be sent to jail," he alleged.
He accused the BJP of deliberately not promoting education, claiming that an educated population would ask questions and engage in debate with the government.
"The BJP is most afraid of questions. Whoever is afraid of questions will suppress democracy and undermine the principles of Babasaheb Ambedkar," Yadav said.
On farmers, Yadav alleged that the BJP government had created a crisis by failing to ensure timely availability of fertilisers and seeds and remunerative prices for agricultural produce.
"Earlier, we used to hear that fertiliser was stolen from the bag, but today the entire bag is being stolen. Who is responsible for this?" he asked.
He alleged that farmers often failed to get fertilisers and seeds when they needed them most and were not receiving adequate prices for their crops.
"When farmers are suffering losses, memoranda of understanding are being signed with big companies," Yadav alleged, claiming that the government was pursuing policies favouring large corporate houses.
The SP chief also expressed concern over the flood disaster in neighbouring Nepal and called upon the Indian government to extend all possible assistance to the country. He said the sudden floods had resulted in loss of lives and livestock and caused extensive damage to property and livelihoods.
"In such a situation, the Government of India should provide all possible assistance to Nepal," Yadav said.
