Dehradun, Oct 25 Uttarakhand BJP workers, led by cabinet minister Ganesh Joshi, staged a demonstration at Kuthal Gate in Dehradun on Sunday against Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over his “infiltrators” remark.
On Friday, Yadav, while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Lucknow, said that the “biggest infiltrators” in Uttar Pradesh are from Uttarakhand, obliquely referring to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was born in the bordering state.
The BJP workers burned an effigy of Yadav and demanded that he issue an apology.
“Akhilesh Yadav used derogatory language against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath — a staunch defender of the Sanatan tradition who also has ties to Uttarakhand. Such a comment cannot be condemned strongly enough,” Joshi said at the protest.
The BJP leader said a large number of people from Uttarakhand live in Uttar Pradesh, and Yadav’s remarks could negatively impact his own political base.
“In the near future, the people of Uttar Pradesh would also give him a fitting response,” he added.
Uttarakhand BJP chief Mahendra Bhatt challenged the Congress and other local parties to sever all ties with the SP.
He also said the public will not forgive the Congress for cosying up to the SP.
“True colours of those who loudly proclaim their commitment to ‘Uttarakhandiyat’ have now been revealed. The people of the state will teach a lesson to anyone seen standing with the Samajwadi Party,” he said.
Bhatt also accused the SP of consistently being anti-Uttarakhand and responsible for the killings and rapes of the people of the state.
“Everyone remembers the Muzaffarnagar massacre and the relentless suppression of the statehood agitators during the SP’s rule. Now, by labelling the people of Uttarakhand as ‘infiltrators’, Yadav has once again sinned by insulting us and striking at our self-respect. The BJP condemns this vile statement in the strongest possible terms,” he said.
Bhatt also claimed that the Congress’s response revealed that party leaders were not hurt by what Yadav said.
Former Uttarakhand chief minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat said that Yadav’s remark was “unfortunate”.
“It is likely that the image of Yogi Adityanath was on his mind when he made this comment. He seems to have forgotten that we were once a single state. Even after some unfortunate incidents, the period surrounding the bifurcation remained one of harmony,” he said.
BJP state general secretary Deepti Rawat termed Yadav’s statement “entirely unacceptable.”
“While there are boundaries to political opposition, targeting the identity and dignity of a state’s people for political gain goes beyond mere political rhetoric — it reflects a deep-seated disrespect toward the residents of that state,” she said.
Yadav should remember that his wife, Dimple Yadav, comes from Uttarakhand, Rawat said.
“The dignity of the people of Uttarakhand does not depend on the convenience of any political party or the compulsions of an alliance,” she added.
(PTI News)
