Lucknow, Oct 1: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said social justice in India and Uttar Pradesh was passing through a "BJPian Emergency", alleging atrocities against the marginalised sections and action against those raising their voices.
He also promised to include several measures to aid those who fought the 1975 Emergency in his party's manifesto ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections due next year.
"At this time, it can be said that the period in which the Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (PDA) is being or will be subjected to atrocities can be called an Emergency. At present, social justice in the country and the state are going through a BJPian Emergency," Yadav said at a press conference here, while also asserting that PDA and Gen Z would "wipe out" BJP in the coming years.
The Samjwadi Party chief, who refers to those who opposed the 1975 Emergency as "Loktantra Senanis (democracy warriors)", said several such people met him at the party headquarters on Thursday and shared their experiences and suggestions.
"I thank all the Loktantra Senanis who are present here today. They refreshed their memories and spoke about the period when they had to endure great difficulties, injustice and atrocities they faced," he said.
"The Samajwadi Party assures them that when our government is formed, with their blessings, all their important suggestions will be implemented," Yadav said.
He announced that the honourarium for Loktantra Senanis would be increased to Rs 51,000 if his party forms the government in Uttar Pradesh.
"The honourarium they are receiving today is very low considering today's inflation and the present circumstances," he said.
"For their health, treatment and medicines, special arrangements will be made in government hospitals, and their complete treatment will be free," he added.
The former chief minister said demands for respect on par with freedom fighters and concessions in train and bus fares would also be included in the party's manifesto.
Targeting the BJP government in the state, Yadav cited the recent action against a youth who allegedly posted pictures and videos of waterlogging in Gorakhpur.
"After 10 years of the same party being in government, waterlogging took place in Gorakhpur, the 'mukhya nagri' where the chief minister visits so many times. And if someone takes a picture or video of it, the person making the video is booked under the Goonda Act and other sections," he alleged.
"This is not happening for the first time. Our journalist colleagues would know that if they show any truth from there, action will be taken against them at this time," he said.
Drawing parallels with the issues that had fuelled protests against the 1975 Emergency, Yadav said, "The basic and fundamental questions of that time had brought people onto the streets and created a new kind of energy across the country. Corruption was at its peak, inflation was at its peak."
"And even today, the situation is the same, where inflation, corruption and unemployment are at their extreme," he added.
"During the Emergency, all of you fought together, and in the coming time too, you will work to fight. We will save democracy; we will save the Constitution," Yadav said.
The Samajwadi Party chief further alleged that "true saints" had been humiliated under the BJP government and were not getting justice.
"This Emergency is more dangerous than the previous," he said, alleging that the government was creating a divide in brotherhood and social harmony and destroying the social fabric.
Taking a dig at Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak over his recent remark that people should drive taxis instead of chasing jobs, Yadav said, "The deputy chief minister should book an e-rickshaw (and leave)."
Targeting Pathak, who is also the health minister, he added, "He is the minister who has made the hospitals themselves sick. Now the hospitals themselves need treatment."
On demolitions in Ayodhya, he alleged that buildings were being forcibly declared illegal and claimed that the BJP had the largest number of illegal buildings. "Justice will prevail only when the BJP is removed,'" he said.
Yadav also alleged that government work was being carried out on non-government land in neighbouring Ambedkar Nagar, calling it unconstitutional and illegal. This "bulldozer culture", he said, would end only when the BJP government was removed.
On governance, Yadav said Lucknow gets waterlogged whenever it rains and rivers and drains are not cleaned. "Budget is made, but the budget itself goes into filling people's pockets," he alleged.
Citing a news report, he claimed the 91-km Gorakhpur Link Expressway, built at around Rs 7,000 crore, had 74 potholes over a 45-km stretch. Roads built under the SP government, he said, had survived several monsoons, while the Agra-Lucknow Expressway was running "without maintenance".
Yadav also alleged that no new power plant had been established under the Yogi government, contributing to electricity shortages, and said the government should tackle inflation, corruption and profiteering to help ordinary people and government employees.
"If you change the BJP, democracy will survive. This Emergency (BJP's) is going on," he claimed.
Displaying two photographs, including one of Chandigarh mayoral poll presiding officer Anil Masih handling ballot papers and another showing a policeman appearing to point a pistol at women during the 2024 Uttar Pradesh Assembly bypoll, Yadav alleged attempts to undermine democracy.
"You can never forget these pictures. We will always remind you how the BJP tried to destroy democracy," he said, alleging the BJP and Election Commission colluded in "the theft of Samajwadi Party votes" in Uttar Pradesh.
He also quipped that the BJP could have "taken one floor in the Election Commission office" instead of building large party offices everywhere.
Yadav called for social harmony and said no community should face objectionable language. On AI-generated videos showing BJP and SP fighting, he said, "We do not want to get trapped in this. They are deliberately paying money to get such videos made, while ours are being made for free."
On his proposed "Bhajan Jamming" programme with Gen Z, Yadav said even though it was originally his idea, "someone else" had organised one before he could. He was referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent bhajan outing in Delhi.
He said his party would soon hold youth programmes focusing on education, employment and technology.
A future Samajwadi Party government, he said, would integrate technology with the needs of poor people, farmers and youth, combining private investment with government support to bring prosperity.
