Akhilesh Yadav Criticizes BJP, Distances from Congress in Lok Sabha Speech
Tensions within the INDIA opposition bloc surfaced in Lok Sabha today. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the BJP while subtly distancing himself from the Congress.
During his speech, Yadav highlighted the “inadequate attention” given to the manufacturing sector after the 1991 economic reforms. Speaker Om Birla quipped, prompting Yadav to reply, “Our path is the cycle track.”
On the China border issue, Yadav said both the BJP and Congress share responsibility. He recalled, “During the Congress era, we lost lakhs of acres to China. The BJP is now on the same path but refuses to acknowledge China’s occupation.”
His remarks followed Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the Army confirmed Chinese presence in Indian territory. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dismissed this, blaming the 1962 conflict under Congress rule.
Yadav also reiterated his demand for a caste survey. He said, “A caste survey is needed to strengthen reservation. The Congress now supports it, but they didn’t earlier. If they had, we wouldn’t need to demand it today. We will lead this effort, not just back it.”
When BJP MPs hinted at friction between SP and Congress, Yadav retorted, “There’s no friction, unlike your double-engine government.”
Yadav echoed Rahul Gandhi’s concerns about China’s manufacturing dominance but linked it to the 1991 reforms. He said, “When our markets opened, the manufacturing sector was neglected. Had it been handled better, we might have surpassed China.”
Speaker Birla joked, “Are you giving them gyan?” Yadav smiled and replied, “Our track is the same, the cycle one.”
Yadav’s speech reflected shifting dynamics within the INDIA bloc. In the Delhi polls, Congress and AAP, former allies, are now rivals. Yadav campaigned for AAP, urging voters to unite against the BJP. He said, “Votes should not split. To defeat the BJP, every vote must go to AAP.”
Yadav also backed AAP’s claim that the BJP-led Centre hindered Delhi’s development. He stated, “Delhi will progress only if the BJP stops interfering.”
Other INDIA bloc allies, including Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar), have also supported AAP over Congress in Delhi. This has exposed cracks in the alliance.
After Congress’s poor performance in Haryana and Maharashtra, INDIA allies have called for a leadership change in the bloc. Yadav’s measured remarks highlight the growing unease within the opposition coalition.
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