OP Rajbhar slams Akhilesh Yadav over London, Paris trips, urges domestic tourism
Synopsis
UP minister OP Rajbhar used a pointed X post to mock SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for preferring London and Paris over Uttar Pradesh’s own pilgrimage circuit — turning a tourism argument into a full-blown political attack that questions the SP leader’s credibility as a voice for the poor.
Key Takeaways
OP Rajbhar of the SBSP attacked Akhilesh Yadav on 13 June over his foreign holidays in London and Paris .
Rajbhar urged Akhilesh to instead visit UP pilgrimage sites including Kashi , Ayodhya , Mathura , Naimish , and the Vindhyavasini shrine .
He argued domestic visits would benefit local vendors, hoteliers, and transport operators in Uttar Pradesh.
Rajbhar accused Akhilesh of hypocrisy — publicly championing the poor while holidaying abroad.
No response from Akhilesh Yadav or the Samajwadi Party had been issued at the time of reporting.
Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Saturday, 13 June launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, mocking him for repeatedly holidaying in London and Paris while ignoring the rich pilgrimage and tourism circuit of his home state. Rajbhar, who heads the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), used a lengthy post on X to deliver the broadside.
What Rajbhar Said
'Don’t look abroad, connect with your roots. See your own state first, then look at the world. But what can one say? You prefer London and Paris! You’ve cultivated such aristocratic tastes,' the UP minister wrote, in remarks that combined political sarcasm with a pitch for domestic tourism. He also pointedly asked whether Akhilesh was listening to qawwalis during family trips to London.
The Pilgrimage Argument
Rajbhar listed a string of religious sites in Uttar Pradesh — Kashi, Ayodhya, Mathura, Naimish, and the shrine of Mother Vindhyavasini — as worthy alternatives. He argued that a visit to any of these destinations would have delivered tangible economic benefits to ordinary workers. 'Local traders would have found some employment. Poor vendors selling flowers, sweets, and prayer offerings would have benefitted, while small hoteliers and transport operators would have prospered,' he said.
Broader Political Dig
The SBSP leader went beyond tourism to question Akhilesh’s political credibility, arguing that the SP chief’s foreign preferences contradicted his public posture as a champion of the poor. 'You prefer sitting in air-conditioned comfort, holding press conferences, and tweeting. You prefer singing the hollow tune of ‘PDA’ and shedding crocodile tears for the poor... yet, when it comes to travel, only London and Paris appeal to you,' Rajbhar said.
New India, New Uttar Pradesh
Rajbhar framed his remarks within a wider assertion that the era of the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Samajwadi Party is over. He said the incumbent governments have overseen a revival of domestic tourism and called on leaders like Akhilesh to take pride in India’s own culture and pilgrimage heritage. 'If you start exploring your country’s culture, pilgrimage sites, history, and diversity, even a lifetime wouldn’t be enough,' he added.
The attack reflects the ongoing political rivalry between the SBSP — a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-aligned outfit in Uttar Pradesh — and the SP ahead of future electoral cycles in the state. There was no immediate response from Akhilesh Yadav or the SP to Rajbhar’s remarks.
Point of View
He simultaneously plays to BJP-aligned Hindu sentiment and lands a class-based jab at the SP’s pro-poor branding. The SBSP has historically occupied a delicate position as a smaller BJP ally seeking its own OBC constituency, and attacks like this are as much about carving space within that alliance as they are about weakening the SP. What the broadside misses is that domestic tourism policy is a state government responsibility — one the ruling coalition itself holds in Uttar Pradesh. The accountability arrow, if pressed, points both ways.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did OP Rajbhar criticise Akhilesh Yadav?
Rajbhar criticised Akhilesh Yadav for repeatedly travelling to London and Paris for holidays while neglecting Uttar Pradesh’s own pilgrimage and tourism destinations. He argued that such trips denied economic benefits to local vendors, hoteliers, and transport workers in the state.
What did OP Rajbhar say in his X post?
Rajbhar penned a lengthy post on X mocking Akhilesh for his ‘aristocratic tastes’ and urging him to visit religious sites such as Kashi, Ayodhya, and Mathura. He also accused the SP chief of hypocrisy, claiming he sheds ‘crocodile tears for the poor’ while holidaying abroad.
Which pilgrimage sites did Rajbhar suggest Akhilesh visit?
Rajbhar specifically named Kashi, Ayodhya, Mathura, Naimish, and the shrine of Mother Vindhyavasini as destinations Akhilesh should have visited instead of travelling to London and Paris.
What is the political context of Rajbhar’s remarks?
Rajbhar leads the SBSP, a BJP-aligned party in Uttar Pradesh, and has been a vocal critic of the Samajwadi Party. His remarks are part of an ongoing political rivalry between the two parties in the state, particularly as both compete for OBC and backward-community votes.
Did Akhilesh Yadav respond to Rajbhar’s criticism?
No response from Akhilesh Yadav or the Samajwadi Party had been issued at the time of reporting.
