LUCKNOW, Feb. 22 -- Attacking the Uttar Pradesh government over the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati late on Saturday night on charges of sexually abusing and threatening boys during the recently concluded Magh Mela in Prayagraj, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that the ruling party was making cheap accusations against him.

Addressing a press conference at SP headquarters in Lucknow, Yadav claimed, "It is written in the (Bhagavad) Gita that one who stays away from Maya even while living in it is a Yogi. Guru Nanak also said that wearing clothes or piercing ears does not make one a Yogi. Tell me how Shankaracharya is being treated. Where were the BJP members when his disciples were being in...