BJP Posters in Lucknow Slam Akhilesh’s Silence on Cleric’s Remarks Against Dimple
BJP Posters in Lucknow Slam Akhilesh’s Silence on Cleric’s Remarks Against Dimple
Posters attacking Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav for his silence on a Muslim cleric’s alleged inappropriate remarks about his wife, Dimple Yadav’s attire during a Delhi mosque visit, appeared across Lucknow on Tuesday but were swiftly removed. The posters, put up by BJP MLC and state general secretary Subhash Yaduvansh, featured Akhilesh and Maulana Sajid Rashidi, with the text: “Patni ke apman par chup rahne wale pradesh ke behen-betiyon ki suraksha kya karenge?” (How will those silent on their wife’s insult protect the state’s sisters and daughters?)
The controversy stems from Rashidi’s comments during a TV debate, which the BJP labeled as insulting to Dimple, a Mainpuri MP. An FIR was filed against Rashidi on Sunday at Vibhuti Khand police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 79 (insulting a woman’s modesty), 196 (promoting enmity), and 197 (prejudicing national integration), plus IT Act provisions, following a complaint by Pravesh Yadav, who alleged Rashidi’s remarks reflected an “anti-national mindset.” SP’s Mahila Sabha president Juhie Singh countered, claiming Rashidi is “BJP-sponsored” and filed a complaint at Gomti Nagar police station demanding action.
BJP leaders, including UP Minister Baby Rani Maurya, criticized Akhilesh’s silence as “shameful,” questioning SP’s stance on women’s dignity. Yaduvansh denied any shift in BJP’s position despite the posters’ removal, attributing it to local administration decisions.
Posts on X, with hashtags like #DimpleYadavInsult and #AkhileshSilent, show polarized reactions—BJP supporters like @UP_BJP accused SP of appeasement, while SP’s @SamajwadiParty alleged a BJP conspiracy to defame Dimple. The incident, amid UP’s 2027 election buildup, escalates political tensions, with SP’s 62-seat loss in 2022 still a sore point.
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