Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a sharp attack on the opposition during an event marking Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti in Bithoor, Kanpur, on Monday. Addressing the gathering, he took aim at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the issue of illegal immigration. Yogi said there were “two miyas” in the country, one bigger and one smaller, and alleged that both had a strong affection for infiltrators. His remarks added a fresh political edge to the debate over immigration and opposition politics.
₹411 Crore Development Projects
During the event, Yogi Adityanath inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various development projects worth more than ₹411 crore. While highlighting the government’s development agenda, he also criticised the previous governments led by the Samajwadi Party and Congress. He questioned their record on employment, farmers’ welfare, public safety and development, arguing that the state had suffered during their time in power. His speech combined announcements about development projects with pointed political criticism of his rivals.
Allegations Over Bangladeshis and Pakistanis
Yogi alleged that Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi supported Bangladeshi infiltrators while neglecting the concerns of Dalits, disadvantaged communities, poor families, farmers and young people. He also accused opposition leaders of supporting Bangladeshi and Pakistani infiltrators while questioning the identity of Uttar Pradesh residents. These were political allegations made during his address, as he sought to portray the opposition as failing to prioritise the interests of Indian citizens.
Attack on the Samajwadi Party’s Past Rule
The chief minister also criticised the Samajwadi Party’s earlier tenure in Uttar Pradesh. He alleged that farmers were forced into distress, poor people struggled to meet basic needs and young people faced difficulties finding jobs. He further accused the previous government of failing to protect women and claimed that criminals seized land belonging to traders and poorer residents. Yogi also alleged that rioters received political patronage under the former administration. The remarks were part of his broader criticism of the opposition’s governance record.
Questions Over Institutions and Law and Order
Yogi accused opposition parties of questioning constitutional institutions and disrespecting the judiciary. He claimed that their political approach could take Uttar Pradesh back towards a period marked by disorder and insecurity. He also alleged that opposition leaders were supporting infiltrators while insulting legitimate residents by questioning their identity. His comments reflected the BJP government’s continued focus on law and order and illegal immigration as key political issues in the state.
Direct Question to Akhilesh Yadav
Towards the end of his address, Yogi directly questioned Akhilesh Yadav, asking why he had so much affection for Bangladeshi infiltrators. By grouping the Samajwadi Party and Congress leaders together in his “bigger and smaller miya” remark, the chief minister sharpened his attack on the opposition ahead of future political contests. The speech in Bithoor placed immigration, governance and the treatment of different social groups at the centre of the latest political confrontation in Uttar Pradesh.
