File photo: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav
Accusing the BJP of being the "most cunning" party, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today alleged that it was trying to divide the country by talking about 'love jihad'.
"I have said this in the past too, that there is no party more clever than the BJP. I appeal to the people of Mainpuri to use their minds to defeat it this time," Mr Yadav said at an election rally held in Mainpuri for the Lok Sabha by-elections.
'Love jihad' is a term recently coined by the Sangh Parivaar, as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS and its affiliates, including the BJP, are together known. It refers to girls from the majority community being converted by men of a minority community to their religion using love and marriage as bait in an organised manner.
Alleging that the BJP was "misleading" people, Mr Yadav said, "Those promising to bring
achhe din (good days) are now chanting love jihad... those talking about love jihad are cunning people and want to divide the country and society."
In an apparent reference to BJP MP Yogi Adityanath, Mr Yadav said, "Babas (ascetics) are talking about love jihad. This same baba was once on his way to Jhansi to cause disturbance, but the state government arrested him. We want a debate with him and the BJP about which road or bridge they want to build or what development work they want to do in Uttar Pradesh."
Accusing the Narendra Modi government of not fulfilling the promises made at the time of elections, Mr Yadav said they had made tall promises -- like ending unemployment and inflation -- but nothing had happened.
"What direction is the central government taking for the welfare of farmers and to deal with the power crisis is known to no one," he said.
Blaming the Centre for the power crisis faced by the state, Mr Yadav said the Central government has extended no help.
"We have not got coal. We want to supply power, but they do not want to give coal. They are not increasing our quota of power. They are not even giving the power that falls under our quota," he said.
Terming thes Samajwadi Party as the "true well-wisher" of the people, he said all promises made by it and 'Netaji' (SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav) in the 2012 Assembly elections have been fulfilled.
"This area (Mainpuri) has given great honour to 'Netaji' several times and we can assure that our association and love for it will always continue," Yadav said.
By-polls for the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat will be held on September 13. The seat fell vacant after the resignation of party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who had also won from the Azamgarh seat and decided to retain the latter.