Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed that a Shivling is buried beneath the official residence of the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister in Lucknow. He suggested that the site should be excavated to reveal this alleged religious structure.
“There is a Shivling under the Chief Minister’s residence in Lucknow. It should also be excavated,” Yadav told reporters in Lucknow.
The statement comes amid a rising political face-off over recent surveys sought in Uttar Pradesh, mostly around temples and mosques. Last week, a 250-ft-deep stepwell, dating back to the era of the 1857 revolt, was unearthed during a survey in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal. The stepwell was found after two bulldozers were involved in excavation at the site in the Laxman Ganj area of the town.
The SP and the Congress have continuously alleged that the BJP was using such surveys to create division in society for political gains and to distract the masses from core issues, including unemployment and the agrarian crisis.
Yadav, while speaking to reporters, said that the people of Uttar Pradesh wanted to overthrow the BJP government and were awaiting elections. “People are angry with the government on all counts. Be it law and order, education, farmers’ issues, and women’s safety. The coming times in U.P. will be the phase of change. The public has made up their minds,” Yadav told reporters.
Yadav said there is no development but destruction under the present regime.
The former chief minister said the BJP government is making Uttar Pradesh number one in borrowing and debt.
Escalating his attack, Yadav said the treasury has been emptied.
Speaking to reporters at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia auditorium at the party office, the Samajwadi Party chief accused the government of cheating the farmers.
”Has the income of farmers doubled?” he asked.
Yadav said the ”houses of innocent people are being demolished illegally by bulldozers. This is not development but destruction. There is no line of development in the hands of the chief minister, there is a line of destruction (’mukhyamantree jee ke haath mein vikaas kee rekha nahin hai, vinaash kee rekha hai’),” he said, according to a statement issued by the Samajwadi Party.
Yadav said the BJP government has not done any development work.
”Inflation, unemployment and corruption are at their peak. Farmers, youth, everyone is unhappy,” he added.
The former chief minister said the BJP government is getting excavation done at various places to hide its failure and to divert attention from the issues related to the public.
The SP chief said the government is claiming through advertisements that it is acquiring 1.5 lakh acres of land for the investors.
”The government does not have land. Now, the government is hell-bent on ruining the farmers. It wants to acquire 1.5 lakh acres of land. The BJP government is deceiving people by lying in the name of investment,” Yadav said. ”When we go to other countries, we get to learn a lot. Where has the world reached? What are people here entangled in? We hope that in the coming times, the people of Uttar Pradesh will work to bring about change. Once again, we will go on the path of development and prosperity.”
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
