‘If MP isn’t safe, who is?’: Akhilesh questions Yogi govt over attack on SP MP’s house

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of corruption and deteriorating law and order in the state. His remarks come after the attack on the residence of senior SP MP Ramji Lal Suman.

Raising security concerns, Yadav questioned how the common people could feel safe if even a senior Dalit MP’s house was targeted in broad daylight. He pointed out that the incident occurred in a city where the Chief Minister was present, alleging that such acts reflect the growing audacity of criminal elements under the current regime.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Yadav accused the BJP of misleading the public with false development claims. “If there has been real progress in the last eight years, why is there talk of removing them?” he asked, alleging that the government has set new records in corruption and dishonesty, adding, “A highway of corruption runs from Lucknow to Gorakhpur within the BJP itself.”

“The BJP is the expressway of lies. To monopolise the money earned through corruption, they have created a highway that runs from Lucknow to Gorakhpur,” he said, claiming that misgovernance has affected sectors such as investment, education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Yadav also aimed at the BJP over alleged financial irregularities in Gaushalas (cow shelters). “These shelters are not being run with a spirit of service. Instead, corruption is rampant,” he said, alleging that funds meant for their upkeep were being misused.

He claimed that due to negligence, cows are suffering from hunger and disease, with frequent reports of deaths from starvation and lack of medical care. “Gaushalas have become prisons for cows,” he added.

The attack on Ramji Lal Suman’s house has triggered a political controversy, with Yadav holding the BJP responsible for the law-and-order situation. “There is jungle raj in Uttar Pradesh. Criminals and anarchist elements have been given a free hand under this government,” he alleged.

Pallavi Patel protests against attack on SP MP’s house, detained

Apna Dal (K) leader and Sirathu MLA Pallavi Patel, along with nearly 200 supporters, staged a protest on Thursday against the attack on the residence of Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman.

Patel and her supporters marched from Parivartan Chowk before being detained at KD Singh Babu Stadium.

Speaking to reporters, Patel condemned the attack, stating, “Disagreeing with a statement cannot justify violence or attacks. The attack on a Dalit MP’s residence is an assault on democracy.” She alleged that such incidents were being orchestrated to divert public attention from key issues and demanded a review of security arrangements for opposition leaders.