Akhilesh questions BJP over claims on investment, jobs and US deal

Lucknow: Maintaining that there is little evidence of job creation on the ground, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said BJP govt is making false claims about investment in the state. Speaking to media persons during his visit to Fatehpur, the SP chief said that if investments were genuinely flowing into Uttar Pradesh, they would translate into employment opportunities. The SP chief also attacked the govt over law and order, alleging that Uttar Pradesh records the highest number of crimes against women and a rising incidence of cybercrime. He further accused the ruling dispensation of giving rise to various "mafias", including land and exam rackets, and alleged that BJP functionaries were involved in illegal land occupation with support from the state. Former CM also raised religious and social issues, claiming that respected Hindu figures were insulted in recent incidents. He criticised the state's leadership for failing to uphold their dignity and questioned the role of deputy chief ministers in addressing such matters. Earlier, while interacting with media in Rae Bareli en route to Fatehpur, he alleged mistreatment of ‘batuks' and warned of moral consequences for those responsible. He also criticised rising electricity tariffs, while also alleging irregularities in billing. He claimed that farmers would suffer if current policies continued. The SP chief urged people, especially youth and farmers, to oppose the BJP, accusing it of diverting attention from core public issues. Akhilesh demands clarity on US dealEven as the union govt dismissed allegations of any foreign interference in its reported agreement with the United States, the chief of the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, intensified his attack, questioning the transparency and implications of the deal. Responding to the Centre's denial, the SP chief said the govt must clearly spell out the terms of the agreement. "Either the details of the deal should be made public or claims of external interference should be firmly rejected with facts. The country deserves clarity," he said. He alleged that the interests of farmers, traders, labourers and the wider public could be adversely affected, arguing that weakening agriculture and industry would directly impact employment opportunities. "If farms decline and industries slow down, where will jobs come from? This concerns the country's future and dignity," he said. Akhilesh also targeted chief minister Yogi Adityanath over his proposed Japan visit, suggesting that the focus should instead be on understanding why Varanasi did not develop on the lines of Kyoto despite repeated comparisons. He said lessons on heritage preservation and urban planning should be meaningfully applied.