Akhilesh Yadav's effigy burnt in Haldwani after row over ‘infiltrator’ remark against Uttarakhand people

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav faced intense backlash on Sunday after members of the Pahadi Army burned his effigy in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. The protest was triggered by Yadav’s comments describing residents of Uttarakhand as infiltrators in Uttar Pradesh. Regional politicians and opposition leaders demanded a public apology, warning that the incident could escalate if no clarification or remorse is offered. The controversy began on Friday when Yadav spoke to media personnel in Lucknow. According to reports, he stated that infiltrators had entered the contracting business and news channels through media investments. He then asked who the biggest infiltrators in Uttar Pradesh were, answering that they were from Uttarakhand. He added that the definition of an infiltrator might need to be revised. The Samajwadi Party later issued a clarification stating that Yadav was referring to a specific individual rather than the entire population of the neighboring state. Despite the party’s explanation, the reaction in Uttarakhard was swift and severe. On Sunday, activists from the Pahadi Army, a regional social organization, set fire to a dummy representing Yadav in Haldwani. Harish Rawat, the president of the Pahadi Army, stated that the hill community values its culture, traditions, and self-respect. He noted that the term infiltrator is typically associated with militants and terrorists. Rawat demanded an apology from Yadav and warned that protests could intensify in the coming days if the demand was not met. Political figures from multiple parties joined the condemnation. Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, accused Yadav of insulting the people of the state. Dhami recalled historical grievances, mentioning that bullets were fired at agitators demanding a separate state during the tenure of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh’s father. Dhami argued that labeling the people of Devbhoomi as infiltrators disrespects the region’s identity and the soldiers who sacrificed for national security. He predicted that voters would punish the Congress party, the Samajwadi Party’s ally in the INDIA bloc, in the 2027 assembly elections. Sumit Hridayesh, the Member of Legislative Assembly for Haldwani, described the remark as inappropriate for any Indian citizen working in another state. He emphasized that millions of people from Uttarakhand contribute to the nation’s development through their labor and talent. While urging Yadav to clarify the context of his statement, Hridayesh condemned the labeling of citizens as infiltrators. He specified that Yadav’s comments reflected personal views and did not represent the official stance of the Congress party. Rajendra Chaudhary, a Samajwadi Party spokesperson and the party’s in-charge for Uttarakhand, defended Yadav. Chaudhary asserted that the remark was not an insult to the state, noting that Yadav maintains an emotional connection with Uttarakhand. He reiterated that the comment targeted a single individual and that Yadav respects the people of the region. The Bharatiya Janata Party launched a coordinated attack on Yadav. State spokesperson Suresh Tiwari accused Yadav of insulting Uttarakhandis living in Uttar Pradesh and other states. Tiwari criticized the Congress party for responding cautiously, alleging that both parties share similar political strategies within the INDIA alliance. He claimed the Congress used measured language for electoral gains rather than defending the state’s honor firmly. Another BJP spokesperson, Vinod Chamoli, stated that the anti-Uttarakhand sentiment present in Mulayam Singh Yadav persists in Akhilesh, with the backing of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The BJP formally demanded a public apology from Yadav.