During a political rally in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) leader Mayawati's nephew, Akash Anand, found himself embroiled in controversy as he launched scathing criticism against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), likening its governance to that of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Accusing the BJP of neglecting the youth and exploiting the elderly, Akash Anand labeled the state government as "traitorous" and characterized it as akin to a "terrorist government," drawing parallels with the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan.
In his fervent address, Anand condemned the alleged lack of safety for women and the failure to provide essential services like food for children. He also accused the BJP of corruption, describing it as a "party of thieves" and alleging that it had accepted significant funds from wealthy donors, contrasting it with the BSP's grassroots funding model.
Subsequently, a case was filed against Akash Anand and four others for purportedly using objectionable language during the rally, with charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Representation of the People Act.
In response, the BJP condemned Anand's remarks, warning that his actions would have consequences, particularly in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Sitapur. BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi criticized Anand, attributing his statements to nepotism within the BSP and suggesting that both the Election Commission and the electorate would hold him accountable for his remarks.
The Sitapur Lok Sabha constituency is slated to vote in the fourth phase of the elections on May 13.
