Dehradun/Lucknow: A major political controversy has erupted in the political corridors of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand following a remark by former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav. After Akhilesh Yadav reportedly referred to people from Uttarakhand as “infiltrators” in Uttar Pradesh, politics in both states has heated up. Strongly objecting to the statement, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami demanded a public apology from Akhilesh Yadav. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has targeted the SP as well as its ally Congress over the issue.
What is the Entire Matter?
While interacting with mediapersons in Lucknow on Friday, Akhilesh Yadav had stated, “Who are the biggest infiltrators in UP? Those from Uttarakhand… So we will have to determine the infiltrators.” As soon as Akhilesh Yadav’s statement came to light, protests intensified in Uttarakhand. Expressing deep grief and outrage over the statement, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that this is a direct insult to Devbhoomi’s rich culture, struggle, identity, and the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the defense of the nation.
CM Dhami Recalls History of the Rampur Tiraha Incident
Launching a sharp attack on Akhilesh Yadav, CM Dhami referenced the tenure of SP founder and former Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. He said, “The people of Uttarakhand can never forget the era when bullets were fired at agitators demanding a separate state. Those under whose rule atrocities were committed against Uttarakhand’s agitators are today calling the state’s people ‘infiltrators’.” Dhami asserted that Akhilesh Yadav must issue an unconditional public apology to the entire population of Uttarakhand for his insulting remark.
BJP Takes a Dig at Congress; Harish Raut Expresses Disagreement
In this entire matter, the BJP has also put Congress—SP’s ally under the ‘INDIA’ bloc—in the dock. CM Dhami and Uttarakhand BJP spokesperson Vinod Chamoli questioned whether Congress supports Akhilesh Yadav’s statement. The BJP alleged that Mulayam Singh Yadav’s anti-Uttarakhand mindset remains alive in Akhilesh Yadav today.
On the other hand, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Harish Rajawat expressed disagreement with Akhilesh Yadav’s statement. However, he also appealed to the public not to fall for BJP’s provocations.
Samajwadi Party Clarifies Its Stance
Seeing the controversy grow, the Samajwadi Party attempted to clarify its position on the statement. SP national spokesperson and Uttarakhand in-charge Rajendra Choudhary stated that Akhilesh Yadav’s statement is being misinterpreted. He clarified, “Akhilesh ji shares a deep emotional bond with Uttarakhand and holds the people of Devbhoomi in high regard. His statement was not meant for the people of Uttarakhand, but was solely in the context of a specific individual.”
It is believed that from a political perspective, this issue will gather further momentum in the coming days, which the BJP is likely to leverage in upcoming election rallies.
