Daijiworld Media Network - Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Feb 23: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a pointed attack on the Centre, raising concerns over the government’s handling of a recent Youth Congress protest, alleged manipulation of voter lists, and emphasising the cohesion of the opposition INDIA alliance ahead of key elections.

Speaking to reporters in Chandigarh, Akhilesh Yadav criticised the government for failing to anticipate the protest. “What happened should not have happened. This is the Government of India’s mistake. Before inviting delegates, the government should have checked what they were planning to do there,” he said, adding that intelligence and law enforcement agencies also fell short in their duties.

On the opposition front, he asserted that the INDIA alliance remains united, with a strong focus on challenging the Bharatiya Janata Party in upcoming elections, particularly in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. “The alliance is intact and will remain intact. The Uttar Pradesh election in 2027 will not only decide the state’s future but also set the direction for 2029,” he said, cautioning against divisive politics.

Akhilesh Yadav also raised concerns over voter roll irregularities in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting attempts to delete migrant workers’ names using Form 7 applications. “Today I caught fake signatures of our Municipal Chairman that resulted in the removal of a Muslim voter’s name,” he claimed, urging opposition parties to remain vigilant.

Praising Chandigarh’s urban design, he described the city as a model of planned development. “Chandigarh is a planned city. If its model had been followed in developing other cities like Delhi, issues like pollution, dust, traffic congestion and poor drainage might have been addressed,” he said.

In a veiled criticism of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he remarked that while domestic civic issues persist, “some people have left the country for visits to Singapore and Japan,” underscoring what he perceives as misplaced priorities.