AAP Rajya Sabha MP Accuses BJP of Expanding Liquor Outlets While Shutting Schools; Raises Questions Over Electoral Rolls and EVMs
Sant Kabir Nagar/Lucknow: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP and Uttar Pradesh in-charge Sanjay Singh launched a sharp attack on the Yogi Adityanath government over unemployment, closed sugar mills, alleged closure of government schools, electricity shortages and electoral irregularities at the party’s ‘Satta Parivartan Jan-Aakrosh Rally’ in Dhanghata, Sant Kabir Nagar.
The rally and workers’ conference were organised at Prasadpur Bagh in the Dhanghata Assembly constituency. Singh attended as the chief guest, while a large gathering of party workers and supporters assembled under the leadership of Engineer Janak Prasad, state president of the Tiranga Shakha.
Addressing the gathering and a subsequent press conference, Singh alleged that the state government had closed 27,000 government schools while opening an equal number of liquor outlets. Describing it as a reflection of the government’s priorities, he said the public should remain cautious of political leaders who approach voters with promises and divisive rhetoric ahead of elections after remaining disconnected from them for years.
Highlighting the economic challenges facing eastern Uttar Pradesh, Singh pointed to closed sugar mills, unemployment among young people and inadequate prices for farmers’ sugarcane and agricultural produce. He alleged that instead of addressing these concerns, the BJP was focusing on divisive political issues.
On employment, the AAP leader criticised what he described as insensitive remarks about young people’s job prospects. He alleged that while the children of BJP leaders were benefiting from large-scale financial opportunities, unemployed youth in Uttar Pradesh were being advised to seek livelihoods through cow dung and cow urine-related activities. He said young people deserved employment opportunities rather than such remarks.
Singh also criticised the state’s electricity supply, alleging that residents facing prolonged power cuts were not receiving satisfactory responses from the government. He claimed that when people complained about electricity shortages, the Energy Minister responded by invoking religious slogans instead of addressing their grievances. He accused the BJP of using religion to deflect attention from governance-related shortcomings.
Questioning the credibility of electronic voting machines, Singh referred to the recent Legislative Council elections in Varanasi, where the BJP lost both the teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies in ballot-based polling. He contrasted these results with the party’s electoral performance in EVM-based elections and raised questions about the transparency of the electoral process.
The AAP MP also alleged irregularities in Uttar Pradesh’s electoral rolls, claiming that 13 lakh names had been added fraudulently while 85,000 legitimate voters had been removed. Referring to developments in West Bengal, he claimed that 27 lakh people had been deprived of voting rights and that 90-93 per cent of cases examined by tribunals were found to be valid.
Describing the protection of voting rights as essential to safeguarding democracy, Singh said preventing alleged electoral manipulation should be a priority. Responding to a question about a possible alliance for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, he said the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC), under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, would take the decision.
Praising Engineer Janak Prasad for his work on public issues across Sant Kabir Nagar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, Singh urged party workers to strengthen booth-level committees and reach out to households. He said the party wanted to build its political campaign around education, healthcare and basic public services.
The rally was attended by former state president Sabhajeet Singh, Purvanchal zone president Rajesh Yadav, Bauddh zone president Imran Latif, state general secretary Dinesh Patel, Sant Kabir Nagar district president Durgvijay and several other senior party functionaries.
Thousands of party workers and local residents were also present at the gathering.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=RtToJsBhYBatUrym&v=mOuYNSdhjHA&feature=youtu.be
