Akhilesh Yadav sparks controversy with 'infiltrator' remarks regarding Uttarakhand

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has drawn intense criticism following remarks in Lucknow suggesting that many 'infiltrators' in Uttar Pradesh originate from Uttarakhand. Yadav made the comments while responding to allegations from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the protection of illegal migrants.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami condemned the statement as an insult to the state’s identity and history, invoking the 1994 Rampur Tiraha incident to highlight past tensions between the state and the Samajwadi Party leadership. Dhami also called on the Congress party to clarify its stance, given its political alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

Senior Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat also criticized the remarks, advising Yadav to correct the statement. Rawat noted that residents of both states have long-standing ties and that those who move for work should not be labeled as infiltrators.