Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday launched a sharp attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his recent criticism of the pre-2017 state government, calling him “the most communal, undemocratic and uncivilised Chief Minister” and a “fake yogi”.
Responding to Yogi Adityanath’s remarks that Uttar Pradesh had lost its identity before 2017 and regained it under the BJP, Yadav said the current dispensation was attempting to deflect attention from governance failures.
“It has been said about the Samajwadi Party that they go to the graves of mafias and read their fate, and they have made such statements. This should not be a communal, undemocratic, and uncivilised government, which is to be seen in Uttar Pradesh today,” he said.
“The day the truth is shown, their game will be over,” he said, asserting that key investments and infrastructure projects in the state were initiated during the SP regime.
Listing projects undertaken during his tenure, Yadav cited power plants, including supercritical units, metro rail projects in cities such as Lucknow and Kanpur, improvements to Green Park Stadium, Dial 100 emergency response services, ambulance expansion and financial allocations to medical colleges.
He also credited the SP government’s electronics manufacturing policy for attracting mobile companies to Noida and investments such as those linked to Samsung and Shiv Nadar.
Turning to recent incidents in Kanpur, Yadav alleged that law-and-order failures were tarnishing the city’s image. Referring to reports of custodial deaths, police action and a case in which a mother and daughter allegedly died after a vehicle overturned amid fear of bulldozer action.
He said the BJP “should not turn Kanpur into ‘Badnampur’.” He also mentioned the alleged flight of a “Noida mafia” figure and said Kanpur’s name was being dragged into controversies.
On his recent social media post comparing “bulldozers” with “BrahMos,” Yadav said the government had relied on fear as a political tool.
“They kept scaring people with bulldozers; now it seems BrahMos is being invoked to scare Delhi,” he remarked, suggesting the political climate had become excessively confrontational.
Yadav also accused the BJP government of distorting history and disrespecting religious traditions.
Referring to Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar’s role in preserving Kashi’s heritage, he alleged that facts around a reported idol-breaking incident were being “hidden behind claims of AI”.
He further claimed that heritage sites and traditions linked to Shankaracharya had been undermined. “Fake yogis cannot respect every yogi,” he said, in a pointed swipe at the Chief Minister.
On the economic front, the SP chief criticised the Centre and the state over inflation, unemployment and alleged policy missteps.
He claimed that domestic markets were first “handed to China and now to America,” questioned defence procurement decisions, and said schemes such as “Make in India” and “Skill India” had failed to deliver jobs.
He also alleged that spending on education was inadequate at a time when the country was speaking of technological transformation.
Yadav reiterated that the SP was open to new entrants. “Whoever wants to join is welcome,” he said, dismissing questions about political realignments.
With Assembly elections due next year, Yadav’s remarks signal an intensifying political battle in Uttar Pradesh.
The SP appears set to foreground governance, economic distress and cultural heritage issues, while positioning itself as an alternative to what it terms a divisive and heavy-handed administration.
– Ends
Published On:
Feb 14, 2026
