Akhilesh not a true socialist, says Maurya
Hitting out at Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said the latter is not a true socialist. UP deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. (HT File)
'While socialists went to jail protesting against the Emergency, Akhlesh Yadav is cosying up to those who imposed it,' Maurya said.
The deputy chief minister expressed these views during a media interaction at Sai Complex in the Pratapgarh Police Lines. Maurya was in Pratapgarh to attend a felicitation ceremony for 'democracy fighters', individuals who were imprisoned during the Emergency. He also participated in a plantation programme.
'On this very day in 1975, the Congress had murdered the Constitution and democracy. The day is being observed as 'Constitution Murder Day'. When the Congress declared Emergency 50 years ago, the media held a mirror to their actions as newspapers left their front pages blank in protest. The judiciary was stripped of its powers, and those who opposed the Emergency were jailed. The nation will never forget this dark chapter,' Maurya said.
'True socialists went to jail for opposing the Emergency. Today, Akhilesh Yadav is siding with the forces that imposed it. It only proves that he is not a genuine socialist. If he were one, he would never have aligned with the Congress. People will turn the Samajwadi Party into a 'Samaptwadi' (finished) Party,' he added.
Referring to the SP's gains in U.P. in the last Lok Sabha elections, he remarked, 'Whatever little success they had in 2024 has now faded. The results in Haryana, Delhi, and Maharashtra have made things clear.'
Responding to the recent controversy in Etawah involving two 'Kathavachaks', the deputy CM said, 'What happened was wrong. Every religious platform deserves respect. Akhilesh Yadav tried to communalise the issue, which is unfortunate.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
23 minutes ago
- The Print
Not sign of my ‘leaping to join' PM's party: Tharoor on Op Sindoor outreach article
His remarks were seen as likely to irk his Congress party and widen cracks in his ties with its leadership. Tharoor, in an article published in The Hindu on Monday, said Modi's energy, dynamism and willingness to engage remained a 'prime asset' for India on the global stage but deserved greater backing. Moscow, Jun 24 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said his article on Operation Sindoor's global outreach was not a sign of his 'leaping to join' Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party but a statement of national unity, interest and standing up for India. Asked about the article at an event here, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said: 'It is not a sign of my leaping to join the prime minister's party (the BJP) as some people unfortunately have been implying. It is a statement of national unity, of national interest and of standing up for India, which to my mind is fundamentally why I came back to India after 25 years of service at the UN.' 'I did so to serve India, and I am very proud to have the opportunity to do so,' Tharoor added. Tharoor said the article was written about 'Operation Sindoor' in which he described the success of the diplomatic outreach mission. 'People always tend to see all this in the context of today's news. It is an article in which I describe the success of this outreach mission, which, amongst other things, showcased the unity of all parties behind the matter of vital national interest,' Tharoor said. 'So, I said the prime minister himself has demonstrated dynamism and energy in engaging with other countries. He has travelled to more countries than any prime minister, and done so in order to take the message of India around the world,' the Congress leader said. 'And to my mind, what we all did was give his efforts that back up by bringing to bear the strength of all of India's different political parties, backgrounds, groups, religions, and convey to the world that message that a united India stands for. Today it is a message against terrorism, tomorrow it could be a message on something else, but that backing up, I believe, is very important,' he said. Tharoor recalled the expression used by Americans that political differences should stop at the water's edge to buttress his argument. 'I, too, have believed for the longest time that political differences in our democracy should stop at the borders. For us, it seems to me there is really no such thing as a BJP foreign policy or a Congress foreign policy, there is only Indian foreign policy and Indian national interest.' 'I am not saying something new, I said this very many years ago, and I said this publicly, on the record, the very first time when I became the chairman of the External Affairs committee back in 2014,' Tharoor said. In the article, Tharoor said the diplomatic outreach following 'Operation Sindoor' was a moment of national resolve and effective communication. The Prime Minister's Office shared Tharoor's article on X. Tharoor in his article said: 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi's energy, dynamism and willingness to engage remains a prime asset for India on the global stage but deserves greater backing.' 'The diplomatic outreach following 'Operation Sindoor' was a moment of national resolve and effective communication. It affirmed that India, when united, can project its voice with clarity and conviction on international platforms,' said the Congress leader, who led a multi-party delegation to the US and four other countries to convey India's stand following the Pahalgam terror attack and the military operation. Tharoor's praise for the prime minister comes at a time when the Congress has been consistently attacking the Modi government over its foreign policy, alleging that Indian diplomacy is being 'shattered' and the country stands 'isolated' globally. Following the Pahalgam attack, Tharoor has been making comments on the India-Pakistan conflict and the diplomatic outreach that are at variance with the stand of the Congress. The Congress has been questioning the government over US President Donald Trump's claims of mediating a ceasefire between the two countries. He has often drawn criticism from his party and jibes aimed at him by Congress leaders for his stand. The delegation, led by Tharoor, visited the US on the last leg of a multi-nation tour to brief key interlocutors about Operation Sindoor, launched by India following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The delegation was one of the seven multi-party delegations India had tasked to visit 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community to emphasise Pakistan's links to terrorism. Last week, while speaking in Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor said he has differences of opinion with some in the party leadership, but is not going to speak about them in light of the byelection in Kerala's Nilambur constituency. He said the Congress, its values and its workers are very dear to him. PTI ASK PY PY PY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
United News of India
28 minutes ago
- United News of India
Our duty to remind the new generations of the Emergency: BJP MP
Srinagar, June 25 (UNI) BJP's Rajya Sabha member from Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Ali Khatana today said that the Emergency was a direct attack on the soul of democracy and it was their duty to remind the new generations of this "betrayal" of constitutional governance. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Khatana recalled the imposition of the Emergency in 1975 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, which lasted for 21 months and saw a 'blatant suspension of civil liberties, press freedom, and democratic rights.' He termed it as the 'blackest period in independent India' and paid tribute to all those who resisted authoritarian rule and sacrificed their freedom to uphold the Constitution and democratic values. "The Emergency was a direct attack on the soul of our democracy. It is our duty to remind the new generations of this betrayal of constitutional governance," he said. "Today, we rededicate ourselves to safeguarding the rights and freedoms of our citizens, as envisioned by our Constitution makers." MP Khatana emphasised the role of BJP as the true guardian of democracy, tracing its ideological lineage to the Jana Sangh, which was at the forefront of the resistance movement during the Emergency. He also lauded the sacrifices made by thousands of party workers, social activists, and opposition leaders who were jailed, tortured, and silenced during this period. He further added that the observance of Emergency Day is not just an act of remembrance but also a warning against any future attempts to undermine democracy. Earlier BJP J&K organised a solemn programme in Srinagar on the 50 years after the Emergency. The event, organised by the BJP Senior Leader, DDC Srinagar Er. Aijaz Hussain, along with the BJP Lal Chowk Constituency, witnessed the enthusiastic participation of party members, karyakartas, and local leaders. Khatana was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Ashok Koul, BJP General Secretary (Organisation) J&K along with several leaders were also present on the occasion. Koul in his address said, BJP's commitment to protect the rights of citizens and to continue the mission of strengthening democracy across all corners of the nation, including Jammu & Kashmir. 'Today we remember those who stood up against injustice during the Emergency. We must ensure that such an undemocratic move is never repeated in the history of our nation, Koul added. UNI MJR SSP
The Hindu
30 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Naidu draws parallels between Emergency era and Jagan's rule in Andhra Pradesh
Marking the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Emergency in India, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched a scathing attack on past regimes, likening the authoritarian rule of the Emergency era to the recent governance of former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Participating in the Samvidhan Hatya Diwas (Constitutional Murder Day) event here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said, 'June 25, 1975, was the darkest day in Indian democracy. Even today, the wounds of that autocratic rule remain unhealed. The Emergency was not just a political imposition — it was a brutal assault on the soul of our democracy.' Mr. Naidu drew parallels between the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the 'destructive and dictatorial' governance witnessed in Andhra Pradesh in the last five years. 'If the Emergency is a case study on how not to govern a nation, Mr. Jagan's tenure is a case study on how not to lead a State,' he remarked, accusing the previous YSRCP government of throttling dissent, demolishing institutions and damaging democratic values. Referring to the demolition of Praja Vedikasix years ago on the same date, Mr. Naidu said it symbolised the beginning of a regime of vendetta politics and institutional destruction. 'The very platform meant for people's dialogue was razed down. That act was not just symbolic; it was a declaration of war against participatory governance,' he stated. Mr. Naidu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan for partnering with the TDP in what he called a 'mission to rescue Andhra Pradesh from chaos.' He emphasised that rebuilding efforts were now under way, with the people's mandate empowering them to restore democratic accountability. Drawing attention to India's constitutional legacy, Mr. Naidu reminded the audience that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had given the people a powerful weapon — the right to vote. 'It is through this sacred right that the people rejected destruction and embraced reconstruction,' he said. Criticising the Congress and YSRCP in one sweep, Mr. Naidu remarked, 'Authoritarian rulers may destroy institutions, but people's will shall always prevail. Just as N.T. Rama Rao bounced back after being ousted, today we are reclaiming our State's democratic spirit.' History teaches us that forgetting the Constitution is the first step toward tyranny. Samvidhan Hatya Diwas is a reminder that democracy must be protected not just in courts and Assemblies, but in the conscience of every citizen, he added.
