Akhilesh Yadav slams BJP on partition, warns own party

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech and the BJP over Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, while also cautioning his own party leaders against making statements the BJP could exploit.

Timesnownews.com reports that Mr. Yadav accused the BJP of celebrating partition rather than independence, alleging that those with no role in India's freedom struggle were commemorating the Partition. He also took aim at Mr. Modi's Red Fort address, saying the government talks of new issues to avoid questions on unmet promises such as employment and the women's reservation bill. Mr. Yadav challenged the government to implement the quota in the 2027 elections.

Separately, The Hindu reports that Mr. Yadav told SP leaders to speak only from party-issued material, after Shivpal Singh Yadav's statement that Azam Khan would be home minister if the SP returns to power. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath seized on the remark, linking Mr. Khan to a figure associated with the Partition and warning that the SP sought to trigger riots again in Uttar Pradesh.