Corruption is the only criterion for growth in BJP: Akhilesh

Lucknow: Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that corruption, dishonesty and falsehood have become the defining features of the ruling party and its govt.

Yadav claimed that in the BJP, political advancement is determined not by merit but by the extent of an individual’s dishonesty.

“Under the BJP govt, the more dishonest a person is, the higher his position and stature,” the SP chief said, taking a swipe at the BJP amid an ongoing political controversy involving a BJP legislator’s remarks on elections and governance.

He alleged that a BJP MLA had exposed what he described as the “corrupt nature” of BJP politics by publicly admitting that elections were won through unfair means. Referring to the controversy, he remarked that the legislator had “encountered BJP’s corrupt politics” and had subsequently faced political repercussions.

“This time the people will expose all the tricks of the BJP. The BJP will lose and will never return to power,” he asserted.

Escalating his criticism of the state govt, Akhilesh alleged that corruption, dishonesty and lies had reached unprecedented levels under the BJP regime.

“Corruption, dishonesty and falsehood are at their peak under the BJP govt. Loot and lies have become the identity of the BJP,” he said.

The SP president claimed that land mafias allegedly patronised by the BJP had targeted cities including Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Kanpur and Mathura, alleging that large-scale encroachments had taken place in these districts.

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SP pays tribute to Ahilyabai Holkar on birth anniv

The 301st birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar, revered as Lokmata, was observed at the Samajwadi Party state headquarters in Lucknow on Sunday. Senior party leaders, including former cabinet minister Rajendra Chaudhary and SP state president Shyam Lal Pal, paid floral tributes to her portrait.

In a message issued on the occasion, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav paid homage to Ahilyabai Holkar, describing her as a symbol of good governance, justice and public welfare. He said her contributions to administrative reforms, women’s empowerment and the restoration of religious sites would remain etched in Indian history.