Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 31: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday accused the state police of preventing him from attending Eid celebrations, calling the move an act of “dictatorship” and “emergency.”
“What should I understand from this? Should I understand it as dictatorship or emergency?” Yadav questioned.
Yadav further alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is not running the country according to the Constitution. He claimed that his convoy was deliberately stopped, and only one vehicle was allowed to proceed.
“When I was coming here today (to attend Eid celebrations), the police deliberately stopped me. After talking for half an hour, I was allowed to go ahead. When I wanted to know why this was being done, no officer had any answer. Is such pressure being created so that we do not attend other people’s celebrations? BJP is not running this country as per the constitution,” Yadav told reporters.
Despite the alleged obstruction, Yadav extended greetings on Eid-ul-Fitr, emphasizing that Uttar Pradesh has historically been a place where people of all religions and communities live together.
“I extend my wishes to everyone on the occasion of Eid. This festival brings sweets and Sevaiyaan to us and sends a message that India has always had a mixed culture. It is the only land where people of all religions and communities have lived together…Today’s Eid, along with that, celebrations of Navratri, have started,” the SP chief remarked.
Opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill
Speaking on the Waqf Amendment Bill, Yadav reiterated his party’s strong opposition to the proposed legislation, aligning with other political parties that have opposed it.
“Most of the parties of the nation are against this bill. The political parties will oppose it. Samajwadi Party is also against this bill. We will oppose this in the Parliament. The big decisions taken by the BJP have failed to benefit the public,” Yadav asserted.
He also criticized the BJP government for its past policies, including the removal of reservations for Anglo-Indians and the implementation of GST, which he claimed has only increased corruption.
“There are many legislations which have affected the public. For example, you can’t buy land in the neighboring state (of Uttarakhand), which was once part of Uttar Pradesh,” he added.
As political tensions rise over governance, law enforcement actions, and legislative changes, Akhilesh Yadav’s remarks highlight the growing rift between opposition parties and the ruling government.