Tensions simmer in Uttar Pradesh politics as Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party supremo, rails against the state government for filing an FIR against prominent religious figure Jyotirmath Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati. The case, involving alleged child exploitation from two decades ago, was activated following court instructions.
At Sunday’s media interaction in Lucknow, Akhilesh minced no words. ‘Reviving a 20-year-old matter to demean a Shankaracharya? Ideological clashes shouldn’t descend to character assassination,’ he charged. He even pondered his past decision to drop charges against a potential rival disciple.
The police action targets the Shankaracharya, Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari, and unnamed individuals. Akhilesh framed it within broader mistreatment: the leader’s denial of Ganga bath at Magh Mela, forcing a multi-day dharna in harsh winter. ‘Unprecedented disrespect to a spiritual authority,’ he noted.
Accusing BJP of pre-election dirty tricks, Akhilesh cited investigations unearthing party workers’ involvement in meat-throwing temple incidents. ‘Social media peddles fake videos to stoke communal fires—don’t fall for it,’ he cautioned citizens.
On infrastructure, Akhilesh slammed stalled projects like Gomti-Hindon cleanups from his tenure and criticized inflated underground pipeline expenses as systemic graft. His satirical poke at CM Yogi’s Japan visit: ‘Japan-bound, but Kyoto’s off-limits.’ Referencing epic Karna, he assailed social justice shortcomings.
Akhilesh ended on a triumphant note: ‘The masses have inwardly ditched this government; voting day will seal it.’ This outburst amplifies SP’s narrative of BJP overreach, galvanizing opposition ahead of crucial polls.