"BJP Itself Is Anarchy": Akhilesh Yadav Slams Ruling Party's March
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav attacks BJP's 'Loktantra Bachao' march, demands paper ballots, and slams infrastructure in PM Modi's Varanasi.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), turning the ruling party's own slogans against it. Reacting to the BJP's nationwide 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy) march, Yadav asserted that the BJP itself is anarchy and described the party as the single biggest "crisis" facing the nation.
Attack on EVMs and Demand for Paper Ballots
Questioning the BJP's criticism of opposition protests, the SP chief reiterated his long-standing distrust of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Yadav stated that the Samajwadi Party remains committed to the return of paper ballots, regardless of electoral outcomes.
In a bold claim, Yadav remarked that even if the Samajwadi Party were to sweep all 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh using EVMs, they would still oppose the technology. He argued that voting is only constitutional when conducted via paper ballots, citing the United States—the world's leading superpower—as an example of a nation that still utilizes paper-based voting systems.
Varanasi's Infrastructure Under Fire
While visiting Varanasi, Yadav took a sharp swipe at the local administration and the Prime Minister's representation of the city. He highlighted a stark contrast between the government's promises and the ground reality in the PM's own constituency.
Yadav pointed out several systemic failures in the city, including:
- Traffic Chaos: A complete lack of proper traffic management leading to persistent jams.
- Sanitation Issues: Streets covered in garbage and a lack of clean drinking water.
- Poor Roads: He claimed that the roads he traveled on had practically turned into "swimming pools" due to poor maintenance.
He further mocked the government's ambitions for the city, suggesting that if they couldn't turn Varanasi into a city like Kyoto, they could have at least put up hoardings to pretend they were trying.
Defining the 'PDA' Strategy
The SP chief also took the opportunity to clarify the meaning of his "PDA" political formula. He explained that PDA stands for Pichhda (backward classes), Dalit, and Alpsankhyak (minorities).
Expanding on this, Yadav noted that the minority category includes Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, Sikhs, and Christians. He added a broader inclusive layer to the definition, stating that anyone facing oppression, humiliation, or suffering—including Brahmins—falls under the umbrella of this group.
The Context: A Battle of Marches
This political clash comes amidst a wave of protests regarding the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The BJP's 'Loktantra Bachao' march was organized as a counter-response to opposition protests.
The tension has been further escalated by comments from the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. During a mega rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, Gandhi had accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of facilitating "vote theft" and claimed that the commissioner would eventually be removed from his post and jailed.