Uttar Pradesh Minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar on Tuesday, 14 July levelled sharp allegations against Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav, accusing him of deliberately seeking to 'incite riots' in Uttar Pradesh to consolidate Muslim votes ahead of the upcoming state Assembly elections.

Rajbhar's Core Allegations

Speaking to reporters, Rajbhar alleged: 'Akhilesh Yadav wants riots to take place in the state because riots and curfews occurred during his government's tenure. Ordinary people suffered because of them, and that is what he wants again.' He further claimed that Yadav is 'unable to digest the fact that Muslims are at peace' under the current BJP government, alleging that the SP chief was suggesting the ruling dispensation was 'not good' precisely because it had not allowed communal violence to flare up.

Rajbhar also invoked the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, which took place during the SP's tenure in the state, saying, 'People were killing each other... Akhilesh Yadav wants riots and curfew to take place to win Muslim votes.' The SP has not responded to these specific allegations.

X Post Targets SP's Alleged 'Reign of Terror'

Earlier on Tuesday, Rajbhar posted on X (formerly Twitter), accusing the Samajwadi Party of unleashing what he called a 'reign of terror' against Dalits and backward communities during its time in government. Referring to the 2012 UP Assembly election results — which gave the SP a clear majority — he alleged that violence against Dalits began almost immediately after the party's victory.

He cited two specific incidents in Sitapur district: the alleged torching of 13 Dalit homes in Bimbia village, Revsa, on 8 March 2016, reportedly because Dalits had not voted for the SP; and the burning of 35 homes in a Dalit settlement in Patti Dehlia village, Laharpur on 21 December 2015, allegedly because residents had not supported the SP candidate in a local 'pradhan' election. Rajbhar alleged that two Dalit children were burned alive in the latter incident. These are Rajbhar's allegations; they have not been independently verified by NationPress.

Broader Charges Against SP Rule

Rajbhar also alleged that during the SP's tenure, a criminal gang operated by obstructing vehicles — by throwing eggs at windscreens — and then robbing occupants. He linked this alleged gang, without providing supporting evidence, to high-profile cases including what he referred to as the Badaun case and the Bulandshahr case, both of which involved the rape and murder of young women. 'Mothers kept crying while their daughters were being raped. Two girls were raped and then hanged from a tree,' he alleged, characterising these as emblematic of lawlessness under SP rule.

Ballia Visit and Ongoing Attacks

Rajbhar further alleged that during a recent visit to Ballia district, he observed 'SP workers and goons creating havoc on the streets' and 'criminals roaming around carrying Samajwadi Party flags.' He asserted that such conduct was a reminder that the rule of law now prevails under the current government. This comes amid a broader escalation of political rhetoric between the ruling NDA alliance — of which the SBSP is a constituent — and the SP ahead of the next Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.