Samajwadi Party ‘gang of dacoits’, should apologise for ‘loot’ of Uttar Pradesh exchequer, says Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) of looting the state’s finances and called its leadership a “gang of dacoits” during a speech in Deoria on August 29, 2026. Addressing a gathering where he laid the foundation stones of 80 development projects valued at over ₹305 crore, Adityanath directed his remarks specifically at SP president Akhilesh Yadav, demanding an apology for alleged mismanagement of public funds during the party’s rule. The accusations centered around the construction of the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Lucknow, which Adityanath claimed involved financial impropriety. Adityanath emphasized that Uttar Pradesh had transformed from a state once marked by poor governance and insecurity into one with improved development and security. He criticized past administrations, including those led by the SP and the Indian National Congress, for failing to address critical issues such as encephalitis outbreaks in several districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. According to him, these outbreaks, which occurred annually between July 15 and November 15, were not merely medical crises but symptoms of a broader failure in governance. He cited the death of 50,000 children over four decades due to encephalitis, noting that no chief minister or prime minister from the SP or Congress had visited the affected areas to assess the situation. The chief minister also referenced the term “BIMARU,” an acronym coined by demographer Ashish Bose in the mid-1980s to denote Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, then considered among the poorest states in India. Adityanath argued that Uttar Pradesh had moved beyond this label, attributing the change to the current government’s efforts in reducing crime and improving infrastructure. He stated that criminal elements responsible for endangering women and traders had been significantly curtailed, with many facing legal consequences or worse. In his speech, Adityanath highlighted the role of elected officials in shaping the state’s trajectory. He asserted that the progress in development, prosperity, and employment was a direct outcome of the electorate choosing capable leaders. Before 2017, he claimed, Uttar Pradesh lacked basic amenities such as housing, sanitation, LPG connections, electricity, roads, and education. Schools, according to him, had become centers of corruption rather than learning. The chief minister’s comments were delivered in the presence of several senior officials, including Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, Minister of State for Rural Development Vijay Lakshmi Gautam, and local legislators Shalabh Mani Tripathi and Sabha Kunwar Kushwaha. These individuals were part of the program marking the commencement of new developmental initiatives in Deoria. Adityanath’s critique of the SP extended beyond financial allegations. He portrayed the party as having allowed a “parallel government of mafias” to operate within the state. Under his administration, he claimed, such criminal influences had been neutralized, leading to a cleaner political environment. His remarks underscored a narrative of transformation, contrasting the current administration with the perceived failures of previous regimes. The accusations against the SP and its leader Akhilesh Yadav are likely to intensify political tensions in the region. With elections looming, such statements could serve both as a rallying point for Adityanath’s supporters and a challenge to the opposition. The focus on alleged corruption and past governance failures may further polarize public opinion, influencing voter sentiment ahead of future polls. The specific claims regarding the JPNIC project and the encephalitis crisis require scrutiny through official records and independent investigations. While Adityanath presented these as clear-cut examples of misgovernance, the SP and other stakeholders may contest these assertions, potentially leading to legal or political responses. As the development projects in Deoria symbolize the current government’s agenda, the discourse surrounding governance and accountability will remain central to the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh.