Is it Acceptable? BJP Reacts to SP’s Poster of Akhilesh ‘Overlapping’ Babasaheb

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The BJP criticized the SP for a controversial poster.
- Akhilesh Yadav's image was compared to Dr BR Ambedkar.
- The BJP called this portrayal an insult to Babasaheb.
- Accusations of exploiting Dalit sentiments were made against the SP.
- The controversy highlights the sensitivity around political representations of historical figures.
New Delhi, April 30 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expressed its discontent towards the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Wednesday, strongly criticizing the party's depiction of its leader Akhilesh Yadav as being on par with Dr BR Ambedkar, the founding figure of the Indian Constitution.
The BJP deemed this portrayal a serious affront to Babasaheb and accused the SP of exploiting his legacy to win support from the Dalit community.
This uproar began when a party poster emerged this morning, illustrating SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Babasaheb seemingly ‘overlapping’ one another. Reports indicated that these posters were displayed in various locations in Lucknow.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya shared the poster on his X account, condemning the Akhilesh-led SP for misrepresenting Babasaheb's image and offending the sentiments of the Dalit community.
“There can be no greater insult to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution and a symbol of the Dalit community, than to distort his image and place Akhilesh Yadav's face over it,” he stated on X.
In further criticism, he asserted that Akhilesh Yadav could never match Babasaheb's stature and his contributions to disadvantaged sections of society, ‘no matter how many lives he lives’.
Malviya added, “The Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh have already insulted the great warrior Rana Sanga and now Babasaheb. This is completely unacceptable to Hindu society.”
Previously, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal held a press conference condemning the SP for the distasteful poster that seemingly undermines the legacy of Babasaheb.
“A poster from the Samajwadi Party shows half of Babasaheb's face, and the other half is Akhilesh Yadav's. This is an affront to Babasaheb Ambedkar. They are attempting to win Dalit votes through such manipulative tactics,” he stated.
“While Babasaheb opposed dynastic politics, Akhilesh represents a dynasty,” he added.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak also criticized this action, labeling it a ‘reflection of the party’s corrupt mentality’.