Akhilesh tries to mend fences with Thakurs after row over SP MP's Rana Sanga remark
In an attempt to reach out to the Rajput community in the wake of an uproar over his party MP Ramji Lal Suman's remark against Rajput warrior-king Rana Sanga, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday marked Maharana Pratap Jayanti (birth anniversary) and announced the Mewar ruler's 'grand statue' on the Gomti riverfront when his party comes to power.
Suman, who termed Rana Sanga a 'traitor', has faced protests by the Karni Sena which was purportedly behind an attack at his residence.
Sitting amidst Thakur leaders wearing saffron turbans at the party office in Lucknow, the SP chief also appealed to the Uttar Pradesh government to declare two-day holidays to mark Maharana Pratap's birth anniversary. The 'grand statue' will have a gold-plated sword, he said.
The party has held meetings with Dalit and Brahmin leaders of late.
Addressing the gathering of Rajput leaders and workers, SP leader and former minister Arvind Singh Gope claimed that during the SP's tenure in government, several community leaders were given important posts in the Union and state ministries.
'We should neither forget a favour nor an insult. The kind of respect and importance given to us during the SP regime cannot be given by anyone else,' said Gope, requesting the community to join hands to help SP form government in the 2027 Assembly elections and make Akhilesh chief minister.
Akhilesh said he had announced a holiday to mark Maharana Pratap's anniversary during his tenure.
Also, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also addressed an event to mark Maharana Pratap Jayanti in the presence of BJP's Rajput leaders like Dinesh Pratap Singh, Daya Shanker Singh and Mayankeshwar Pratap Singh.
He said the lives of Maharana Pratap, Shivaji Maharaj and Guru Gobind Singh continue to inspire people even today with their fight against invaders.
Maintaining that India needs to teach Pakistan a lesson following the Pahalgam terror attack, Adityanath said Pakistan is now struggling for existence because of its acts. 'See how shamelessly Pakistan's top armed force officers and politicians were at the funerals of terrorists. It must have opened the eyes of the entire world that Pakistan not only harbours and sponsors terrorism but it is directly involved in it,' said Adityanath.
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