Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 9 : Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav remembered Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram on his death anniversary and called for strengthening marginalised communities to form the INDIA bloc's government in Uttar Pradesh.
Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Akhilesh Yadav said that the SP has been working for Dalits and backward classes.
He said, "I thank the workers who organised the program to remember Kanshi Ram. In today's political scenario, we should come together to strengthen PDA, which stands for Pichhda (backwards), Dalit, and Alpsankhyak (minorities), to form a government for social justice in Uttar Pradesh... If we continue at the same pace, we will form a government in UP in the upcoming elections... The Samajwadi Party has always been working for Dalits and other backward classes' betterment."
Recounting the work of veteran leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Kanshi Ram, he said that the SP and BSP challenged communal politics in the State.
Akhilesh Yadav said, "Samajwadi Party and Neta ji have led the struggle to get dignity and raise the political status of the marginalised. Netaji and Samajwadi Party supported Kanshi Ram ji to become an MP from Etawah, and SP and BSP challenged the communal politics in those times."
"I got his (Kanshi Ram) statue made. On the floor of the House, when BSP raised questions, the SP government ordered the Lucknow Development Authority for maintenance," he added.
This comes after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday took a dig at the Samajwadi Party while expressing gratitude towards the current BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh for maintaining transparency in the management of funds collected from the Kanshi Ram Memorial.
Speaking at the memorial on the death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, Mayawati praised the BJP government for not "suppressing" the revenue generated from visitors.
"We are grateful to the present government because, unlike the Samajwadi Party government, the money collected from the people visiting this place has not been suppressed by the present BJP government," Mayawati said.