Harish Rawat tells Akhilesh Yadav to correct 'infiltrators from Uttarakhand' remark
Synopsis
Akhilesh Yadav's claim that 'most infiltrators in UP are from Uttarakhand' has ignited a rare cross-party backlash from the hill state — with even Congress's Harish Rawat demanding a correction. CM Dhami's invocation of the 1994 Rampur Tiraha firing, a defining trauma in Uttarakhand's statehood movement, raises the political temperature significantly.
Key Takeaways
Akhilesh Yadav sparked a controversy by claiming 'most infiltrators in UP are from Uttarakhand' during a press interaction in Lucknow on Friday.
Former Uttarakhand CM and Congress leader Harish Rawat called it a 'wrong statement' and urged Yadav to publicly correct it.
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami condemned the remark on X, invoking the Rampur Tiraha incident of 1994 .
Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri also condemned the statement, calling it 'extremely unfortunate.' The backlash spans party lines — Congress, BJP, and the state legislature — signalling broad political sensitivity over the remark.
Senior Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on 25 October 2026 strongly criticised Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav over his remark that 'the most infiltrators in UP are from Uttarakhand,' calling it a wrong statement and urging the SP leader to correct it publicly. The row has drawn sharp rebukes from leaders across party lines in the hill state.
The Remark That Sparked the Row
The controversy erupted after Akhilesh Yadav made the comments in Lucknow on Friday while responding to reporters' questions about the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) allegations that the Opposition was attempting to shield 'infiltrator' votes by questioning the Election Commission of India (ECI). In his response, Yadav said: 'The people who are saying this themselves are infiltrators... Most infiltrators in UP are from Uttarakhand. One has to define infiltrators... The term infiltrators will not weaken the Hindustaniyat. They are making efforts to end Hindustaniyat. They have made a mockery of faith and devotion...'
What Harish Rawat Said
Speaking to reporters in Bageshwar, Rawat drew on the shared history of both states to push back against the characterisation. 'Until recently, Uttarakhand was part of Uttar Pradesh. Several people of Uttarakhand are still working for Uttar Pradesh, who chose that state as their Karmabhoomi and stayed there,' he said. He added that people from Uttar Pradesh had equally settled in Uttarakhand, arguing: 'Those who settle in a place are citizens there. How can they be called infiltrators?'
Rawat acknowledged that Yadav appeared to be targeting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with the remark, but maintained the choice of words was unacceptable. 'He should not have used the word Uttarakhand. That was a wrong statement. I hope that Akhilesh Yadav corrects it,' Rawat said.
CM Dhami Invokes 1994 Rampur Tiraha Incident
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also lashed out at Yadav on Saturday, accusing him of insulting the identity, history, and sacrifices of the Himalayan state. Dhami posted on X: 'Uttarakhand is both the Devbhoomi and Veerbhoomi. This sacred soil has given the nation numerous saints, soldiers, and individuals devoted to national service. Shri Akhilesh Yadav ji, calling the people of Uttarakhand infiltrators, is an insult to the pride of the Devbhoomi and to our struggles.'
Dhami also invoked the Rampur Tiraha incident of 1994, when activists demanding a separate Uttarakhand state were fired upon during the tenure of then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav — Akhilesh Yadav's father — lending a pointed historical dimension to the rebuke.
Speaker Khanduri and Cross-Party Condemnation
Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri also condemned the remarks. 'It is very sad. Such language is not expected. If someone calls themselves a young leader and uses such language, I don't think they can be called a true leader, even of their own party. It is extremely unfortunate. Using such language, behaviour, or conduct against anyone is wrong and unacceptable,' she said.
Notably, the condemnation cutting across Congress, BJP, and the legislature signals that the remark has struck a particularly raw nerve in a state with a strong sense of regional identity. With no retraction from Yadav's camp as of Sunday, the political pressure on the SP chief is likely to intensify.
Point of View
CM Dhami has tied the SP chief to a historical wound that predates any current electoral calculus, making a simple walk-back complicated. For Congress, this is an uncomfortable position: Rawat must distance the party from an alliance partner's words without completely burning the bridge. The episode underscores how 'infiltrator' as a political term has become so charged that even its opponents risk narrative traps when deploying it carelessly.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Akhilesh Yadav say about Uttarakhand?
Akhilesh Yadav said 'most infiltrators in UP are from Uttarakhand' while responding to reporters in Lucknow on Friday about BJP's allegations that the Opposition was protecting infiltrator votes. The remark triggered widespread condemnation from leaders across party lines in Uttarakhand.
Why did Harish Rawat criticise Akhilesh Yadav?
Harish Rawat, senior Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister, said the remark was factually and historically incorrect, noting that Uttarakhand was once part of UP and that people from both states have long settled in each other's territory. He argued that settled residents cannot be called infiltrators and urged Yadav to issue a correction.
What is the Rampur Tiraha incident that CM Dhami referenced?
The Rampur Tiraha incident of 1994 refers to a police firing on activists agitating for a separate Uttarakhand state during the tenure of then UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav — Akhilesh Yadav's father. CM Dhami invoked it to underline the historical grievances of Uttarakhand against UP's ruling establishment.
Has Akhilesh Yadav responded to the backlash?
As of the time of this report, no retraction or clarification had been issued by the Samajwadi Party or Akhilesh Yadav's camp. Leaders across Congress, BJP, and the Uttarakhand legislature have called for the remark to be withdrawn.
Who else condemned Akhilesh Yadav's remark?
Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri condemned the remarks, calling them 'extremely unfortunate' and saying such language was unacceptable for someone projecting themselves as a young leader. The condemnation from Congress, BJP, and the legislature reflects a broad, cross-party political sensitivity in the hill state.
