Lucknow, Oct. 21 -- In a veiled attack on the BJP, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said those practising divisive politics or those who discriminate, lie and spread discord cannot be called Sanatani.
Invoking the idea of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family), he also said all people on earth belong to one family, and accused those claiming otherwise of being "fake".
"The sun is Sanatani. The wind does not discriminate against anyone. Those who discriminate, do not speak the truth, do not love others and divide people cannot be Sanatani," he told reporters here.
Yadav also claimed that the BJP cannot win elections without dishonesty, irregularities and manipulation.
He appealed to voters to support his party's candidates in the upcoming graduate and teacher constituency elections to the state Legislative Council (on October 23), saying this would help promote development, education and employment in Uttar Pradesh.
"The BJP itself is the real crisis. The crisis will end only when the BJP is removed," SP president said.
Appealing to the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls, he urged officials to discharge their duties impartially and refrain from acting as political workers.
"If they act as political workers, they should be prepared to go to jail," he said, alleging that officials involved in electoral malpractice would not be able to escape accountability for alleged irregularities in transfers, postings and other matters in the education department.
Yadav also questioned how BJP leaders and ministers were able to send voice messages to voters when, according to him, voter lists were not readily available to others.
"How have voter lists reached ministers? They must have hired a company, which may have recorded their voices and sent the messages. Voice messages can be sent only when you have the data," he alleged.
The SP chief accused officials in the education department, particularly basic shiksha adhikaris and district inspectors of schools, of allegedly intimidating people in areas where elections are scheduled.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.