The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday, following his controversial remarks regarding people from Uttarakhand. During a press conference in Lucknow on Friday, when asked about the identity of the biggest infiltrators in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Yadav responded by naming those from Uttarakhand. This comment has sparked significant political backlash, with the ruling party accusing him of disparaging the residents of the hill state.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami led the condemnation, demanding a public apology from the SP leader. Mr. Dhami stated that the remarks were an affront to the pride, identity, and historical struggles of the state, which he referred to as "Devbhoomi." He further alleged that such statements reflect a persistent anti-Uttarakhand sentiment within the Samajwadi Party leadership, linking the current rhetoric to the era of the party's founder, Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The Chief Minister recalled the period when the movement for a separate state was underway, claiming that police had opened fire on agitators during the reign of Mulayam Singh Yadav. Mr. Dhami remarked that those whose past government actions involved violence against Uttarakhand's statehood activists are now labeling its people as infiltrators. He maintained that this rhetoric disrespects both the common citizens of the state and the soldiers who have served in the security of the nation.
In response to the growing controversy, the Samajwadi Party issued a clarification through its spokesperson and Uttarakhand in-charge, Rajendra Chaudhary. Speaking to The Indian Express, Mr. Chaudhary maintained that the remarks were taken out of context. He stated, "This is not an insult to Uttarakhand. Akhilesh Yadav ji has repeatedly said that we have an emotional relation with Uttarakhand. His remark was not associated with Uttarakhand. It was for an individual person. He respects the people of Uttarakhand."
Despite the clarification, the political fallout continues to intensify. Mr. Dhami has called upon the Congress, an ally of the Samajwadi Party within the INDIA bloc, to clarify its official stance on Mr. Yadav’s comments. Given that the Congress acts as the primary opposition party in Uttarakhand, the Chief Minister suggested that the people of the state would respond to this political alliance in the 2027 Assembly elections.
The BJP’s criticism was echoed by other party members, including Uttarakhand BJP spokesperson Vinod Chamoli. Mr. Chamoli condemned the statement as evidence that what he termed the "anti-Uttarakhand spark" of the elder Yadav remains present in the current party leadership. He further alleged that this sentiment operates under the patronage of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the political establishments in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. As the regional discourse continues, the demand for a public apology from Mr. Yadav remains a key point of contention for the ruling administration in the hill state. The Samajwadi Party, meanwhile, maintains that their leader holds the people of Uttarakhand in high regard and that the specific use of the term "infiltrator" was never intended as a generalization for the state’s population.
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