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‘If he had his way ...’ Maurya’s shocking accusation against Akhilesh
Both Akhilesh Yadav and Keshav Prasad Maurya are senior OBC leaders, the SP chief commanding the loyalty of dominant Yadavs and Maurya largely seen as the BJP’s OBC face, having a connect with most non-Yadav OBCs.
Lucknow: Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Thursday fired a fresh salvo at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, claiming that the top opposition leader in the state hated him so much that if he had his way, he could even get him killed.
Yadav promptly dismissed Maurya’s claim, stating that he “loves all”.
But this is the first time a senior ruling party leader has expressed the possibility of a senior opposition leader going to the extent of plotting his murder.
Both Yadav and Maurya are senior OBC leaders, the SP chief commanding the loyalty of dominant Yadavs and Maurya largely seen as the BJP’s OBC face, having a connect with most non-Yadav OBCs.
Talking to reporters, Maurya took on Yadav over his Wednesday presser in which the SP chief had said that the BJP government was targeting the opposition and could even order his arrest.
However, Maurya said that BJP had no such plans (to arrest him) and added that Yadav made the remark to seek sympathy.
“He should not try to gain sympathy by claiming that he can be arrested. To the best of my knowledge the government doesn’t have any such plans. Why does he fear if he hasn’t done anything wrong, for only those who do wrong go to jail,” Maurya said.
“He should not try to gain sympathy by making such statements and should concentrate on his party, which will be ‘samaptwadi party’ (wiped out) in 2024. His decline has started,” Maurya said. He added that while he referred to Yadav respectfully as the ‘leader of opposition and former chief minister’, the SP chief hated him.
“His heart is full of venom for me and if he had his way, he could even have me killed,” Maurya said. The two leaders have sparred in the assembly too.
Responding to Maurya’s remark of plotting against him, the SP chief said, “We don’t hate anyone, love all. I think the threat he feels is not about his life but his chair.”
In the past, Akhilesh has referred to Maurya as “stool minister” while the BJP leader’s aides have tagged recent photos of Akhilesh sitting alongside West Bengal chief minister in Kolkata, apparently on a “stool”.
