Is map of CM residence approved?: Akhilesh Yadav attacks Yogi Adityanath over bulldozer action

Akhilesh Yadav

In what may be termed as an escalation in Uttar Pradesh's 'Bulldozer Politics', Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today said if the socialist party comes to power in 2027 Assembly polls, bulldozers will be directed towards Gorukhpur.

In a scathing attack on Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and his government over bulldozer actions in the state, Yadav asked if the map of the Chief Minister's residence is approved.

The comment forced Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath to react strongly, saying: “Not everyone’s hands can fit on a bulldozer. Iske liye dil aur dimaag dono chahiye (it takes both brains and courage). Bulldozer jaise shamta aur pratigya jismein ho wahi bulldozer chala sakta hai (One should have stamina and resilience like a bulldozer to handle it)."

Akhilesh Yadav had, on Tuesday, claimed that his party would wipe out the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in UP in 2027. “Soon after the Samajwadi Party comes to power in the state, all the bulldozers will turn towards Gorakhpur,” he said, as per a statement issued by the party, without further elaborating on it.

Uttar Pradesh’s bulldozer politics has been in the news for a while now, especially after the Supreme Court on Monday said there was a need for guidelines over bulldozer actions against accused individuals in various cases, and said a structure cannot be demolished even if one or all occupants of the house have been convicted or found guilty in a case. “We propose to lay down certain guidelines on a pan-India basis so that the concern with regard to the issues raised (on bulldozer actions) are taken care of,” a bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan said.

The SP chief hailed the Supreme Court’s observation, saying using bulldozers was unconstitutional and the “bulldozer of justice” has finally been set in motion. Referring to what Supreme Court said on bulldozer action, Akhilesh Yadav accused the Yogi government of deliberately running the bulldozer on those from whom CM wanted to take revenge.