Keshav Maurya counters Akhilesh on borders, vows flag in PoK

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya hit back at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over his comments on delimitation and India's borders. Speaking in Kaushambi on Sunday, Maurya said India's territory has not shrunk since 2014, but is instead set to expand. He added that the BJP will hoist the tricolour in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Maurya accused Akhilesh of being driven by Muslim vote-bank politics and urged him to join the BJP on issues like the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple and the Gyanvapi mosque. He also criticised the Congress for not singing all six verses of 'Vande Mataram' at its Independence Day event on August 15, calling it disrespect to the national song. He demanded an apology and action against the party.

The deputy CM warned that Akhilesh Yadav's repeated statements on issues already settled, such as the Ram Janmabhoomi temple donation case, will hurt him and the SP. He also blamed the Congress for accepting the 1947 partition driven by vote-bank politics, saying the party will pay a heavy price for its actions.