Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, accusing them of failing to deliver on key promises regarding the economy and the management of the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj.
Yadav voiced his frustration over the government’s inability to fulfill its ambitious promises, such as doubling incomes, creating jobs, and setting up industries. He criticized the BJP for their economic mismanagement, particularly pointing out the failure of their vision for a 1 trillion dollar economy. He expressed his belief that common people were struggling to understand the gap between the promises made and the reality they faced, with many finding themselves still unable to make ends meet.
“The dream that the government showed of making a 1 trillion dollar economy has failed… the poor people are not able to understand what this game of million trillion is,” Yadav said. He added that the youth had not received the new job opportunities they were promised, and the expected industrial growth was nowhere to be seen.
Yadav also raised serious concerns regarding the safety and logistical arrangements made for the Mahakumbh Mela, especially in light of the deadly stampede that occurred on January 29, which claimed the lives of 30 people. The SP chief accused the government of prioritizing publicity over the well-being of devotees, noting the inadequate provisions for food, security, and crowd management.
“This government has crossed all limits of corruption and injustice,” Yadav said. “When they wanted to hide everything, they organized Maha Kumbh. This Kumbh takes place every twelve years. This is nothing new, but the BJP invested so much money, did so much publicity, invited people, and after that, left them…”
He further criticized the government’s claim that they had made arrangements for “one hundred crore people,” pointing out that many devotees were still without food, and the stampede was just one example of the mismanagement. Yadav suggested that the dates for the Mahakumbh should be extended to allow more people to take part safely.
In response to concerns about crowd control, authorities have implemented extensive measures at Ayodhya Dham Railway Station to manage the crowds more effectively and ensure safety during the final days of the Mahakumbh Mela, which will conclude on February 26 in celebration of Maha Shivratri.
