Controversial Hoardings Against Akhilesh Yadav Stir Political Tensions

In Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, controversial hoardings accusing Akhilesh Yadav of being 'anti-women' were torn down by Samajwadi Party workers. Yadav countered the accusations by pointing fingers at BJP, amid growing political tension. Authorities have initiated a probe following the incident.

Hoardings that claimed Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav was ''anti-women'' were torn down by party workers in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district on Tuesday, with the former UP chief minister saying the accusation fitted the BJP as it doesn't have women in its ranks.

Authorities in Shahjahanpur have ordered a probe into the matter after several large hoardings carrying objectionable messages against the former chief minister were found at prominent locations in the Sadar Bazar police station area, they said.

The hoardings carried large photographs of Yadav and described him as ''anti-women'', along with slogans such as ''Mahila virodhi sapai'', ''Betiyon ki cheekh, gundo ka shor, SP raj mein yahi tha daur'' and ''Naari ka apmaan, satta ka abhimaan, ab SP ki yahi pehchaan''.

Some posters showed Yadav wearing the party's trademark red cap, while others depicted him wearing a skull cap associated with the Muslim community.

As the news of the hoardings spread, party workers reached the spots and tore them down, officials said.

At a press conference held in Lucknow on Tuesday, Yadav took a swipe at the BJP over posters branding him as ''anti-women'', and said, ''They themselves are anti-women as they do not have women in their ranks.''.

He said, ''Tell us, have we ever opposed women's reservation? It was the socialists who got the women's reservation bill passed and spoke about giving them reservation. We are saying that women should be given reservation in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled to be held in 2027.''.

Led by district president Tanveer Khan, SP workers submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate, demanding a detailed investigation and strict action against those responsible for putting up the posters.

Khan told PTI that the hoardings were put up on Monday night at busy locations such as the roadways bus stand, Khirni Bagh, Kachahri crossing and Cantonment area.

He alleged that the ruling dispensation was trying to malign Yadav's image due to his ''growing popularity''.

City Magistrate Rajnikant said the administration had received the SP memorandum and the police had been asked to conduct a fair investigation into the matter.