Samajwadi Party MLAs attend Sambhal SP’s wedding, Akhilesh Yadav fumes

LUCKNOW: Taking exception to party MLAs and functionaries attending the wedding of Sambhal superintendent of police KK Bishnoi, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said that it should have been avoided.Responding to a query on the issue at a press conference at SP headquarters, Akhilesh said: "They should have avoided going to the wedding. This will be discussed within the party and the functionaries concerned will be counselled."Sambhal police was under the opposition's spotlight during the Nov 2024 violence and subsequent police firing in which five Muslims were killed and several police personnel injured.Bishnoi got married to IPS officer Anshika Verma on March 29 in Rajasthan. Their reception was held in Jodhpur on March 30. Apart from a host of political functionaries from UP, the gala wedding and reception was attended by SP's Sambhal MLA Iqbal Mahmood, Asmoli MLA Pinky Yadav, Gunnour MLA Ramkhiladi Yadav and SP's Sambhal district president Asgar Ali Ansari.A section of SP functionaries openly expressed their displeasure against party members, who, according to them, attended the invitation of "BJP-minded officer who committed atrocities on caste and religious lines to keep their political masters in good humour".However, some described Bishnoi's action of sending invites to SP functionaries as a ‘sign of changing times', claiming that some officials want to mollify SP members, fearing that they would have to pay for their present actions once the regime changes post-2027 assembly polls.SP's official Media Cell X handle also voiced its reservation over party functionaries attending the event."Apart from politics and etiquette, we need to understand that we also have our moral and social responsibilities. We must maintain an appropriate distance from those anti-social elements, whether they are in govt, in administration or in any party. We have to expose them," the message on X read. Responding to another query, Akhilesh said if the SP forms next govt in UP then officials who have framed party workers in fake cases will be sent to jail.Akhilesh Yadav attacked BJP govt over the fake currency racket busted in Deoria, alleging that social media was flooded with photographs of the arrested accused with BJP functionaries and elected representatives. Referring to the illegal kidney transplant case in Kanpur, he said that the health minister is unaware of ground realities and more focused on criticising opposition rallies.