February 22, Lucknow: Samajwadi Party MLA and Opposition Leader Mata Prasad Pandey launched a blistering critique of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s BJP government, claiming Uttar Pradesh’s reputation has hit rock bottom. ‘The level of infamy today surpasses anything in our history,’ Pandey told journalists, listing encounters, bogus FIRs on innocents, and cases against Shankaracharyas as prime culprits.
He evoked SP’s golden days with pride. ‘No bad press, only breakthroughs. Low-cost marvels like expressways, metros, roads, and courts redefined progress.’ Today’s rulers, he charged, peddle illusory budgets—lakhs and crores pledged, but zilch spent—dooming initiatives to failure.
Echoing party president Akhilesh Yadav, Pandey shrugged off Rambhadracharya’s role. ‘We shielded him from jail in a 420 scam case. Now a government mouthpiece, his views hold no weight.’ Tensions peaked over Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand’s old case, revived seemingly to malign, filed by a Rambhadracharya disciple.
‘Resurrecting 20-year-old grudges to insult seers? This regime is cornered,’ Akhilesh remarked, second-guessing his prior compassion. Pandey concurred, framing these antics as the BJP’s last gasp amid mounting opposition fire. In UP’s high-stakes political theater, such exchanges could sway voter sentiment decisively.