Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that it was functioning “not as a political party but as a gang”.Speaking to reporters after the Vision India programme in Mumbai, former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP govt of disrespecting religious leaders and stalling development projects initiated during the Samajwadi Party’s tenure in Uttar Pradesh.Referring to an incident during the Magh Mela in Prayagraj, Yadav alleged that a Shankaracharya was prevented from taking a holy dip in the Ganga and was subsequently insulted. He also claimed that attempts were made to implicate the religious leader in false cases.The SP chief further alleged that the BJP govt halted the construction of a major museum dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji that was planned during the Samajwadi Party govt in Agra. According to Akhilesh, the project was proposed with an estimated cost of around Rs 300 crore.He said that if the Samajwadi Party returns to power in Uttar Pradesh, the govt would develop a 1,000-acre park in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji.Commenting on upcoming assembly elections in five states, the SP chief urged the Election Commission of India to ensure free and fair polls. He alleged that during certain electoral exercises, the Election Commission, the ruling party and the administration appeared to work together, which he claimed led to attempts to manipulate the electoral process.He also said the Samajwadi Party was working to unite “victims, the oppressed and those facing injustice” under the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) framework.Former UP CM further announced that the Samajwadi Party would support West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and hoped she would return to power again.Among those present during the press conference were Maharashtra SP president and MLA Abu Asim Azmi, MP Rajeev Rai, and former UP minister Abhishek Mishra.
