Uttar Pradesh’s Social Welfare Minister and former IPS officer Asim Arun launched a strong attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday, branding him as a “symbol of divisive politics.” Arun alleged that during his time as Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav went out of his way to insult and humiliate Dalits, which, according to Arun, ultimately led to his political decline. “The public has outright rejected such a brand of politics, relegating him to the fringes,” Arun stated pointedly.
He went on to describe Akhilesh Yadav’s recent remarks as part of a calculated political ploy. “Most of the SP leadership has been tasked with fomenting social division—this is a deliberate strategy. But today, the people of Uttar Pradesh are politically conscious and vigilant,” he said. Citing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Arun quoted, “Batoge To Katoge, Ek Rahoge To Safe Rahoge,” stressing that the present government is firmly rooted in the principles of inclusive and united governance.
Asim Arun further questioned the SP’s sudden concern for Dalit issues, suggesting that this sensitivity only surfaced after the party lost political power. He accused Akhilesh Yadav of disrespecting Dalit icons during his administration, particularly by renaming districts and institutions that were named in their honor. “Names such as Bhim Nagar, Mahamaya Nagar, Jyotiba Phule, Sant Ravidas—even Mahamaya, the mother of Lord Buddha—were changed. Does this reflect respect? Absolutely not. It is a blatant affront to the ideals of social consciousness,” he asserted.
Drawing from his background in the police service, Arun leveled a serious accusation against the SP government, claiming that officers from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were deliberately prevented from getting key postings at police stations and tehsils, in direct violation of established regulations. He emphasized that under the Yogi Adityanath-led administration, postings are now strictly merit-based. “Those who do not perform are held accountable, while officers who work hard are given both proper training and the necessary resources to succeed,” he noted.
Highlighting the strides made by the current government, Arun said that Uttar Pradesh has made unprecedented progress in the area of scholarship distribution. “Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, scholarships worth more than Rs 4,000 crore have been disbursed this year alone, benefiting over 56 lakh students. By comparison, the previous SP regime managed to reach only 34 lakh students, and even then, the system was plagued by widespread scholarship scams,” he claimed.
He also alleged that in 2017, anticipating a loss in the upcoming elections, Akhilesh Yadav discontinued scholarships. “After taking office, CM Yogi ensured that no student would suffer by immediately releasing funds for two financial years,” he added.
Addressing SP’s claims regarding the Kanpur Metro project, Arun dismissed them as baseless. “Akhilesh Yadav seems to be under the illusion that every major development project was initiated by his government. The truth, however, is that the Yogi government has mobilized resources through transparent means—whether it’s from GST revenue or mineral mining. With increased public trust and tax compliance, critical infrastructure projects like the metro have been able to progress steadily,” Arun explained.
In conclusion, Asim Arun voiced strong confidence in the BJP’s future electoral success. “The people of Uttar Pradesh gave us a decisive mandate in both 2017 and 2022. We are confident they will once again place their trust in us in the upcoming elections. Today, the state is governed by the rule of law, clean drinking water is reaching homes, government schools are undergoing significant improvements, and the few remaining gaps in governance are being methodically addressed,” he said, underscoring the BJP’s commitment to development and inclusive growth.