Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India] : Uttar Pradesh Minister Swatantra Dev Singh strongly criticized Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Lal Bihari Yadav over his recent remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack, asserting that the “entire country is united against Pakistan.”
Singh accused the previous SP-led government of fostering “gundagardi (lawlessness), corruption, and loot,” contrasting it with what he described as the “peaceful law and order” environment under BJP’s 8-year rule in the state.
“You have seen the administration during SP’s tenure. There was gundagardi, corruption, and loot. Today, BJP has been in power for the last 8 years, and there is a peaceful atmosphere in the state along with law and order. The entire country is against Pakistan,” he told ANI.
BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also launched a sharp attack on Lal Bihari Yadav, accusing him of effectively giving “a clean chit to Pakistan” and undermining the morale of Indian security forces.
“SP leader is saying that this (Pahalgam attack) was carried out politically. That means they are giving a clean chit to Pakistan and trying to bring down the morale of our forces… INDI alliance and Pakistan are like two different bodies and one soul,” said Poonawalla.
Civil Defence Mock Drills Ordered Amid Security Concerns
In a related development, the Union Home Ministry has ordered statewide mock drills to be conducted on May 7 across India to enhance civil defence preparedness. In Uttar Pradesh, DGP Prashant Kumar has instructed all district administrations to carry out drills in coordination with police, fire, disaster response, and civil administration units.
“Though 19 districts were initially identified, instructions are to conduct the mock drill in all districts given the current sensitivity,” said DGP Kumar.
The drills will simulate air raid warnings, blackout protocols, evacuation rehearsals, and training of civilians, including students, on emergency responses during hostile attacks.