LUCKNOW: Accusing the ruling BJP of spreading falsehood over opposition’s role in relief work during the pandemic, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said people of the state will quarantine the BJP in the 2022 assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
Responding to a media query over Union home minister Amit Shah’s charge that the opposition was missing from action during the pandemic, Akhilesh said his party reached out to the needy and party workers were engaged in relief work at all levels right from arranging oxygen cylinders and medicines for the needy to distribution of food packets and clothing to migrant labourers.
“We reached out to people to contribute in every way possible. But people have not forgotten how dead bodies were seen floating in rivers in Prayagraj, Varanasi, Unnao and Kannauj. People have not forgotten how they had to wait in queue to cremate their loved ones who died for want of oxygen and adequate health care. But instead of providing relief to the people, the ruling BJP got cremation grounds covered from all sides so that no one could see how many bodies were being cremated,” he said.
The former UP CM said people have not forgotten the pain and agony that they had to go through during the pandemic. “People of UP will quarantine the BJP in the 2022 polls,” he said.
Responding to another media query of Amit Shah’s appreciation of the Yogi government’s functioning, Akhilesh said, “Has the farmers’ income been doubled as promised? Look at the quality of construction of the Purvanchal Expressway. What happened to the big companies which were to invest in UP? Where are the jobs the BJP promised for the youth?"
The SP national president also accused the BJP of having copied his campaign anthem of 2017 elections, titled “Kaam bolta hai”. “The BJP has released a song. Play it after Kam Bolta Hai and see it yourself if it’s a copy or not,” Akhilesh said, adding that till now the ruling BJP only indulged in inaugurating projects started by the SP government. Now they have gone even further and copied his song as well.
Akhilesh was interacting with the media at an event at SP headquarters after former Congress MP Harendra Malik and his son and former MLA Pankaj Malik joined the Samajwadi Party. Both the leaders had resigned from the Congress last week, alleging that the Congress had become directionless.
