Lucknow, Sept. 7 -- : Samajwadi Party national president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday criticised the state government over the demolition of a mosque on the Saharanpur collectorate premises. The former chief minister alleged that the action was used to divert attention from governance failures.

Speaking to the media during a visit to Bidhuna in Auraiya district, Yadav said the BJP government was not functioning according to the Constitution and the law. He claimed it had failed to provide jobs and employment, control inflation, maintain law and order, or attract investment.

"That is why the mosque in Saharanpur was demolished," he said.

The structure was razed early on September 5 after a district co...