Om Prakash Rajbhar Critiques Akhilesh Yadavs Stance on Womens Rights and Education Reforms

Lucknow, October 30 (Daily Kiran) : Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar has launched a verbal attack on Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, addressing various political issues including women’s reservation, the inclusion of Swami Prasad Maurya in the India alliance, and the recent MLC elections in Gorakhpur. Rajbhar emphasized that Yadav should reconsider his position on women’s rights before making further statements.

Rajbhar pointed out that both the Samajwadi Party and Congress had previously opposed the women’s reservation bill, yet now they are advocating for women’s representation and ticket allocation. In response to Yadav’s comments on the BJP’s performance in the MLC elections, Rajbhar asserted that the opposition’s confusion would become evident in the upcoming 2027 assembly elections.

Regarding Yadav’s claim about providing tickets to women in the next assembly elections, Rajbhar challenged him to first observe the participation of women in his own constituency and under the BJP government. He questioned why the Samajwadi Party opposed the women’s reservation bill if they genuinely cared about women’s issues. He noted that had the reservation been implemented, women could have gained representation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by 2029.

Rajbhar also criticized Yadav’s trustworthiness, particularly in light of Swami Prasad Maurya’s alliance with the India coalition. He accused Yadav of frequently altering his definition of the “PDA” (People’s Democratic Alliance), sarcastically suggesting that the term now includes “A” for “Agarhari” instead of focusing on marginalized communities.

He cited the Gorakhpur MLC elections as an example of the Samajwadi Party’s neglect of Brahmins, highlighting that while the party nominated Pandit Sanjay Tripathi, local party members did not support him, opting instead for Rajiv Yadav. Rajbhar questioned why the Samajwadi Party, which claims to respect all communities, failed to back Tripathi.

Rajbhar further alleged that the Samajwadi Party engages in “Yadav-centric” politics, gaining support primarily from Yadav voters while neglecting candidates from other communities. He pressed Yadav to explain the lack of support for Tripathi from Yadav voters in Gorakhpur.

In response to Yadav’s claims that police and administration pressured teachers during the MLC elections, Rajbhar countered by asking who had voted for Rajiv Yadav, asserting that Muslim voters had united to support him. He insisted that the voter list would reveal the true situation and urged Yadav to address questions regarding the election outcomes.

Rajbhar also commented on Yadav’s openness to welcoming former allies back into the party, suggesting that Yadav’s statements lack consistency. He claimed that Yadav’s remarks hold no lasting significance, as he continually shifts his political stance.

On the topic of the BJP’s performance in the MLC elections, Rajbhar remarked that while power can be inherited, wisdom cannot. He presented data showing that out of approximately 14 lakh voters, about eight lakh participated in the elections, primarily from educated backgrounds.

Comparing this with the assembly elections, he noted that Uttar Pradesh typically has around 14 crore voters, with over eight crore likely to vote. He questioned why Yadav could not grasp the disparity between eight lakh and eight crore. Rajbhar contended that beneficiaries of government schemes also participated in the MLC elections, including those receiving housing, rations, and pensions.

Rajbhar challenged the notion of evaluating assembly elections based on MLC results, asserting that the true test for Yadav would come in the 2027 assembly elections.

Addressing Yadav’s claims that the BJP government has destroyed the education system, Rajbhar urged him to visit primary and junior high schools to compare the current state with that during his tenure. He highlighted significant improvements in school conditions, stating that while children previously received only mid-day meals, the current government provides uniforms, shoes, books, and desks. He concluded that Yadav’s inability to see these changes stems from his party’s perspective rather than an objective evaluation of educational progress.