Akhilesh targets PM’s austerity pitch, says BJP is the ‘real crisis’

Prayagraj: Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to Indians to adopt austerity measures amid the ongoing US-Iran war crisis, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said the BJP itself has become the country’s “biggest crisis”.

“This is not an appeal. It is an announcement of his own downfall. You speak of a crisis, yet the BJP itself is the crisis. Who is in power? It is the BJP itself. Those who used to boast about the economy — why has the economy faltered today? Why has the economy derailed? They had spoken about doubling farmers’ income and improving per capita income,” he said.



Akhilesh was in Sangam city to meet former MP Prof Rita Bahuguna Joshi whose husband PC Joshi died recently.

He added that while the public is being urged to refrain from purchasing gold and foreign tours, an investigation must be conducted to identify who has been hoarding massive quantities of gold.

“This is a govt of capitalists, serving only to benefit them. It has absolutely no concern for the common people,” he alleged.

Commenting on the alleged involvement of individuals linked to the BJP in the murder of the West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari’s personal assistant, Akhilesh remarked that if anyone can commit such despicable acts, it is those associated with the BJP.

He further alleged that the threads of the Rs 100-crore scam in Jhansi lead back to the BJP.

Targeting the NEET paper leak issue, the former chief minister asserted that BJP govt was setting a “record” for paper leaks.

“This was happening so that govt was not compelled to provide employment to the youth,” he said.

Taking a jibe at the recent cabinet expansion, he remarked that they should have at least provided proper seats — rather than stools — to the new inductees, so that they might have secured some significant portfolios.

On SP MP Ajendra Lodhi’s controversial remarks against PM Modi, he said: “We have never advocated for the use of such language or conduct towards anyone.”

When asked about potential alliances for the upcoming Assembly elections, the former UP CM said the PDA (Pichde, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) constitutes a formidable alliance in itself and any other entities that support the PDA’s cause will naturally join the coalition.

Responding to a question regarding the BJP’s decision not to include MLA Pooja Pal in the cabinet, Akhilesh suggested that she should now be appointed as a deputy chief minister.

The SP chief also vowed to contest the 2027 Assembly elections with full vigor and to emerge victorious.