SP Chief Accuses Yogi of Playing Communal Card When Chair Shakes
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav launched a sharp attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday, alleging that the BJP leader resorts to communal rhetoric whenever he feels his position as chief minister is under threat. The remarks came during a media interaction in Bareilly amid the ongoing controversy over making Vande Mataram mandatory in state schools.
"When his chair shakes, he becomes communal," Yadav stated bluntly in Hindi, referring to Adityanath. "His language becomes such. He has nothing to do with history or with any vision. He just has to sow division."
School Days Comparison and Border Question
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister recalled that during his own school days, students regularly sang either Jana Gana Mana, Vande Mataram, or Sare Jahan Se Acha daily. He pointed out that the national song is already sung at every Sainik School across the country.
Yadav challenged BJP leaders' patriotic claims, demanding they inform the public about the country's territorial area in 2014 compared to today's situation. This comment appeared to reference ongoing border tensions with neighboring countries.
Background of Vande Mataram Controversy
The political debate intensified as the Central government and BJP began celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister has made several provocative statements during this period, including describing opposition to the national song as "a conspiracy to give birth to a new Jinnah."
Adityanath has also claimed that those opposing Vande Mataram are essentially opposing Bharat Mata herself. The controversy gained additional momentum when SP MP from Sambhal, Zia-ur-Rahman Barq, stated he had never sung the national song and that this shouldn't question his patriotism.
Barq clarified his position, explaining that certain words in Vande Mataram conflict with Islamic teachings, making it religiously difficult for him to sing while maintaining his faith, though he emphasized his love and loyalty toward the country.
Election Commission Allegations and Delhi Blast Criticism
In another significant development, the SP chief accused Election Commission officials of working for the BJP during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh. Yadav alleged widespread misuse of government machinery and claimed that officers deployed by the EC were effectively functioning as BJP agents.
To counter this, Yadav announced that his "PDA prahari" - referring to Pichda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak (OBC, Dalits and Muslims) - would act as human CCTVs to monitor the electoral roll revision process. Earlier this week, he had raised concerns about large-scale irregularities in the exercise, questioning the poll panel's preparedness and accusing officials of acting under political pressure.
Turning to national security matters, the former chief minister described the recent Delhi car blast near the Red Fort as an "intelligence failure." He asserted that such incidents only occur when the intelligence system fails and expressed belief that the public now desires change in the prevailing security apparatus.
The November 14 statements from the SP leader come at a crucial political juncture in Uttar Pradesh, setting the stage for intensified political confrontations between the ruling BJP and opposition parties in the state.
