Akhilesh Yadav’s English speech praising Vaiko goes viral

A video of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav delivering an English language speech praising the Tamil politician Vaiko has gone viral, India TV News reported. Yadav, the Lok Sabha member from Kannauj, spoke at the launch of the book Vaiko in Parliament at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi on Tuesday, calling the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam founder a passionate leader who raised the voice of the people of Tamil Nadu. He said Vaiko's fierce speeches had inspired him to raise the voice of people in Uttar Pradesh, and joked that although Vaiko is 82, he looks 28.

India TV News reported that Yadav is among the country's most vocal opposition leaders and frequently targets the Bharatiya Janata Party over issues including allegations linked to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and delimitation, without giving evidence, examples or a BJP response on either point. The book launch was attended by Rahul Gandhi, MA Baby, D Raja and Farooq Abdullah.