Akhilesh backs 'friend' Rahul Gandhi’s ‘khoon ki dalali’ remark, says PM Modi's Lucknow event 'politically motivated'

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday expressed his full support to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has come under attack from the BJP for his ‘khoon ki dalali’ comment made in connection with the recent surgical strikes across the LoC by the Indian Army.

“If Rahul must have said this, he must have a reason,” said the young Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.

The Yadav scion went on to state that he has friendly relations with Rahul Gandhi, even though the Congress remains a rival.

On being questioned if the BJP is taking political mileage out of surgical strikes, he said that BJP even takes advantage by raking up the cow controversy.

Akhilesh made these remarks during the launching of Samajwadi Party 'smart phone yojana'.

He also took a dig at PM Narendra Modi and said that the ‘achhe din’ had not reached Uttar Pradesh in last 2.5 years.

He added that the Rs 9,000 crore allotted by Central government to the state were not yet released by Niti Ayog.

Later, while speaking with the media about PM Modi’s scheduled ‘ravan dahan’ program in state capital Lucknow on Tuesday, Akhilesh said that ‘Ravan effigy would have been burnt in Bihar if the elections were to be held there’. Uttar Pradesh will go into polling in 2017.

Speaking on the demands for bifurcation of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh said, “tomorrow will you say that India is too big, let us divide it?”

Rahul Gandhi had recently accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of hiding behind the blood of soldiers and politically exploiting their sacrifices.

The UP government has, meanwhile, launched a website where people can register to be enrolled under the scheme.

Under the 'smart phone yojana', Samajwadi Party will be offering free smart phones to any individual who is above 18 years of age and has passed class 10th.

A PIL was also filed in the Allahabad HC challenging the launch of the scheme but was later dismissed by the court on August 6.