Lucknow — Samajwadi Party National President and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government, accusing it of complete failure on women’s safety, law and order, inflation, and public welfare. Speaking at a press conference held after a meeting of the Samajwadi Mahila Sabha at the party’s state headquarters in Lucknow’s Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Auditorium, Yadav said that under the BJP regime, women in Uttar Pradesh are not safe and crimes against women have reached alarming levels.
He alleged that the government’s much-touted “zero tolerance policy” against crime has become meaningless, especially when it comes to protecting women. “Injustice and atrocities are at their peak. The BJP government has failed miserably in controlling crimes against women. Instead of protecting women, the government is misusing the police force for political gains,” he said. He cited incidents such as the horrific burning of a mother-daughter duo in Kanpur and the viral image of a girl in Ambedkar Nagar fleeing with her books, as disturbing examples of the ongoing insecurity women face.
Yadav also condemned the manipulation of law enforcement agencies for political vendetta. “The government files false cases against opposition leaders, orchestrates fake votes, and uses the police for its own benefit. When the police is not allowed to do its job freely, law and order is bound to collapse,” he remarked.
Criticizing the BJP for neglecting and dismantling welfare schemes introduced by the previous Samajwadi government, Yadav promised to reinstate and strengthen them if returned to power. “We will revive the 1090 Women Power Line and make it more robust. A new Stree Samriddhi Samman Yojana will be launched, and like the Samajwadi Pension Yojana, women will receive a monthly pension of ₹3,000,” he announced.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the role of the Election Commission, Yadav alleged that the commission was working under pressure from the BJP. Recalling the recent Kundarki bypolls, he said, “Uniformed personnel and private individuals tried to stop voters, especially women, from casting their votes. Revolvers were pointed at them, but they showed courage and defied the intimidation.” He added that the party would felicitate those brave women who voted despite threats and intimidation.
Yadav also reiterated his demand for a return to ballot paper voting. “Even in countries like the United States, ballots are used. If we examine the Kundarki bypoll data, we will find that many votes were cast by police personnel. BJP is using police to engage in mafia-style election rigging,” he said.
Turning his focus to the state’s economic situation, Yadav said the BJP government has pushed the state into deep inflation and unemployment. “The government is encouraging profiteering. Even fertilizer bags are being short-changed by reducing quantity. They’ve sold off public infrastructure like Plassio Mall and farmers’ markets,” he stated. He also accused the government of planning to privatize the JP NIC hospital and expressed the Samajwadi Party’s willingness to take over the facility to prevent its sale to private hands.
Calling BJP a “land mafia party,” Yadav alleged that the ruling party’s leaders were illegally capturing government and poor people’s land across Uttar Pradesh, including in Ayodhya. “Farmers were denied market-rate compensation. That’s why BJP lost in Ayodhya,” he claimed. He further accused the BJP of destroying temples in Varanasi and planning similar actions in Vrindavan under the guise of development, thereby damaging heritage and spiritual legacy.
On the contentious issue of merging primary schools, Yadav alleged that BJP’s policies were anti-education and anti-poor. “These schools serve children from PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) communities. If schools are merged and moved farther away, how will daughters continue their education?” he questioned. He also held the BJP responsible for the state’s deteriorating electricity supply, accusing it of deliberately weakening the power system to justify privatization. “Hospitals like Hardoi Medical College are not receiving electricity. Patients are using handheld fans during treatment. This is the level of neglect,” he said.
In response to a question on foreign policy, Yadav said the central government appears confused and lacks a clear stand. “True friends are tested in times of crisis. Not standing with those who have stood with us is betrayal,” he remarked. He urged the government to bring back Indians stranded in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict through diplomatic efforts and special flights.
With strong words and specific promises, Yadav’s address served both as a fierce critique of the ruling government and a pitch for the Samajwadi Party’s return to power — with a renewed focus on justice, welfare, and democratic accountability.
