Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, accusing it of betraying its allies after Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) workers protested outside Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar’s residence. The protest erupted over Rajbhar’s alleged remark calling ABVP members “goonda.”

In a fiery post on X, Yadav accused the BJP of fostering division, stating, “BJP is loyal to none. Yesterday, its own Parishad and Vahini clashed; now it’s orchestrating protests at allies’ homes.” He criticized the BJP’s “use and discard” strategy, claiming it leaves allies politically ruined and socially ostracized. Without directly naming SBSP, which switched from SP to BJP after the 2022 elections, Yadav remarked, “BJP’s allies can’t show their faces in their communities. Their hands and feet are cold, their faces yellow.” (SBSP leaders often wear yellow scarves, and their flag features the color.)

The controversy began when Rajbhar, a BJP ally and Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister, allegedly called ABVP workers “goonda” following their protest at Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University. The demonstration, held on Monday, was over the lack of affiliation for a law course. Clashes with police left several students injured and a police outpost’s glass panel shattered. ABVP workers claimed Rajbhar supported the police’s lathi-charge and demanded his apology and dismissal. They protested outside his Hazratganj home on Wednesday night, allegedly throwing stones and burning his effigy.

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Yadav shared a video on X showing police addressing ABVP protestors as “bhai,” hinting at leniency toward BJP-affiliated groups. He accused senior police officers of hiding behind junior personnel to avoid confronting BJP’s “misbehaving” frontal organizations.

ABVP’s national secretary, Ankit Shukla, condemned Rajbhar’s remarks, demanding an apology and his removal from the state cabinet. Meanwhile, Arun Rajbhar, Om Prakash’s son, hit back, alleging protestors pelted stones, used abusive language, vandalized vehicles, and tried to intimidate his family. “This is hooliganism, not activism,” he said in a video statement.

Yadav further criticized the BJP’s “divisive mindset” and “money-minded” allies, suggesting they gain financially but lose respect. “BJP’s strategy is to exploit and abandon,” he alleged, pointing to the political fallout faced by allies like SBSP.

The incident highlights growing tensions within the BJP’s alliance network, with Yadav seizing the opportunity to portray the ruling party as disloyal and manipulative.

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