Rajbhar Targets Akhilesh Yadav Over Sanatan Remarks, Questions His Outreach To Hindu Voters

(MENAFN- IANS) Ambedkar Nagar, Nov 10 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister, Om Prakash Rajbhar, on Tuesday criticised Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, accusing him of changing his political stance to woo Hindu voters as elections approach and questioning his commitment to Sanatan Dharma.

Speaking to reporters, Rajbhar's remarks came in response to Akhilesh Yadav's claims that the Samajwadi Party would accelerate development in Ayodhya and control corruption if voted to power.

Rajbhar alleged that during his five-year tenure as Chief Minister, Akhilesh had offered namaz on the stairs of the Hanuman Garhi temple. He further alleged that if the Samajwadi Party returned to power, namaz would be offered inside the Ram Temple.

Targeting Akhilesh's recent references to Hinduism and Sanatan Dharma, Rajbhar said, "His inclination towards Hinduism and Sanatan, with the election dates coming nearer, is a sign of his ignorance and his insult to Sanatan. He has dug his own grave."

He also questioned the SP chief's visits to religious places, saying, "He went to Kashi but did not seek the blessings of Lord Shiv; he went to Ayodhya but not to Ram Mandir; we went to Mathura, but he did not take the blessings of the Lord."

"When he realised that without appeasing the Hindus, he could not get their votes, he started reciting Sanatan," Rajbhar alleged.

In another attack, the minister accused Akhilesh of adopting different positions to appeal to different communities. "He wakes up late, and before brushing his teeth, he is a Muslim, and after taking a bath, he calls for Lord Hanuman," Rajbhar claimed.

He also accused the SP chief of making contradictory attempts to reach out to the Brahmin community.

"In his press conferences, he is always demeaning Brahmins, and then does Brahman sammelans to appease the community. Then he appeases the PDA (Pichhda, Dalits and Alpsankhyak). Later, his men go around threatening the people of these communities," he alleged.

Rajbhar also referred to a statement by Akhilesh Yadav's uncle, claiming that he had to issue directions to local authorities to monitor instances of aggression and intimidation against people over their voting choices.

Aiming at the SP's PDA formulation, which represents Backward Classes, Dalits and minorities, Rajbhar claimed, "His definition of PDA is Parivaar Development Authority, because nine members of his family are Members of Parliament; if you count MPs and MLAs, District Council Presidents, there are 32 members of his family in his party."

He further said, "If he were actually serious about the PDA sections, then there should have been at least two MPs from his party who were representing the backward communities, but there aren't any."

Accusing Akhilesh of using Muslim voters for political gains, Rajbhar challenged him to declare a Muslim candidate as the Samajwadi Party's chief ministerial face.

"This is just manipulation of the Muslim factions. If he is truly concerned about the welfare of the Muslims, he should declare a Muslim candidate from the Samajwadi Party for Chief Minister," he said.

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