Accusing the BJP of being the “most cunning” party, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today alleged that it was trying to divide the country by talking about ‘love jihad’.
“I have said this in the past too, that there is no party more clever than the BJP. I appeal to the people of Mainpuri to use their minds to defeat it this time,” Mr Yadav said at an election rally held in Mainpuri for the Lok Sabha by-elections.
‘Love jihad’ is a term recently coined by the Sangh Parivaar, as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS and its affiliates, including the BJP, are together known. It refers to girls from the majority community being converted by men of a minority community to their religion using love and marriage as bait in an organised manner.
Alleging that the BJP was “misleading” people, Mr Yadav said, “Those promising to bring achhe din (good days) are now chanting love jihad… those talking about love jihad are cunning people and want to divide the country and society.”
In an apparent reference to BJP MP Yogi Adityanath, Mr Yadav said, “Babas (ascetics) are talking about love jihad. This same baba was once on his way to Jhansi to cause disturbance, but the state government arrested him. We want a debate with him and the BJP about which road or bridge they want to build or what development work they want to do in Uttar Pradesh.”
Accusing the Narendra Modi government of not fulfilling the promises made at the time of elections, Mr Yadav said they had made tall promises — like ending unemployment and inflation — but nothing had happened.
