‘Whatever America says, India accepts’: Akhilesh

Agra: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said India’s foreign policy of BJP-led Union govt “lacked independence and was overly influenced by the US”.Addressing a public gathering in Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj district, Yadav said, “We have lost the opportunity to become the Vishwa Guru, and now, whatever America says, India simply accepts.

The BJP govt is compromising on domestic economic interests though it advocates self-reliance.

”Yadav was in Kasganj to inaugurate the Urmila Garden (an event space) and formally welcome former MP Kunwar Devendra Singh Yadav back into the SP.The SP chief claimed that the 2027 UP assembly election would be crucial for the future of democracy in the country. “If BJP wins the 2027 UP assembly polls, people may not get to witness elections again,” he said, alleging that electoral mandates were being undermined.Yadav also accused the BJP govt of “burdening citizens through inflation and policies” that, he claimed, were hurting consumers. He criticised the rollout of smart electricity meters, alleging they were being used to overcharge people. Referring to fuel prices, he said

petrol prices

had crossed Rs 100 per litre and claimed ethanol blending was damaging vehicle engines.The former chief minister said govt primary schools were being shut while liquor shops were expanding.

Targeting CM

Yogi Adityanath

, Yadav said the govt was more focused on bulldozer action than addressing public concerns. Such action “disproportionately targeted PDA (Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak — backward classes, Dalits and minorities)”.Referring to the death of three Indian seafarers in an attack on the Palau-flagged MT Settebello off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, Yadav said, “This was a failure of India’s foreign policy. Had India stood firm and succeeded in preventing the war, no lives would have been lost. It was India’s responsibility to prevent the war.”TOI reached out to BJP spokespersons for comment on the allegations, but they were yet to respond.