Akhilesh claims BJP failed to ensure women's safety in U.P., just raised slogans

Akhilesh Yadav criticizes BJP's law-and-order record in UP, highlighting Samajwadi Party's initiatives for women's empowerment and education.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on Wednesday (November 13, 2024) against the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government over Uttar Pradesh's law-and-order situation, saying the ruling party's claims of women empowerment have become "mere slogans".

Just a week ahead of the bypolls to nine Assembly seats in the state, the former chief minister highlighted the efforts made by the Samajwadi party when it was in power in Uttar Pradesh that included the distribution of over 18 lakh laptops to students for free to improve the educational standards.

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Noting that the BJP had promised laptops and WiFi in its manifesto, Mr. Yadav claimed that the party failed to deliver on its promises. "They distributed a few tablets which are barely functional, whereas the laptops given under our administration are still being used," he claimed.

In a press statement, the SP chief said, "The BJP's claims about ensuring women's safety are false. The government cannot point to a single accomplishment based on facts and reasoning. Any attempt to discredit the initiatives undertaken during the Samajwadi Party's tenure will not succeed." He highlighted several incidents, including the Hathras rape case, to question BJP's commitment to women's safety. Yadav claimed that the "family of the Hathras rape victim was denied the right" to perform her last rites.

"The incident of a gang rape in BHU involving individuals connected to the BJP IT cell was hushed up and efforts were made to protect the accused," Mr. Yadav alleged.

Citing NCRB statistics, he claimed that incidents of crimes against women are highest in Uttar Pradesh, indicating the state's failure to curb these crimes. "Women are unsafe even within police stations and several cases of female police officers facing assault have emerged," Mr. Yadav added.