SP to hoist national flag at govt schools marked for closure: Akhilesh Yadav
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters on Saturday, the former chief minister alleged that the BJP government is shutting down government schools as part of a larger plan. 'The BJP does not want the poor to study because an educated person raises questions on inflation, unemployment, and corruption. When schools are closed, how will girls pursue education?' he asked.
He further claimed that many of the schools marked for merger were situated at polling booths where the BJP had lost in previous elections. 'On August 15, we will not only hoist the flag but also alert villagers about this deliberate strategy,' he added.
Responding to a query on language politics, Akhilesh said his party supports all Indian languages and stands against any form of discrimination. 'From Hindi to Marathi, Tamil to Kannada and Urdu, we respect all languages. People are trying to gain politically by fuelling linguistic disputes. BJP wants to keep this issue alive for its own benefit,' he said.
Akhilesh also alleged manipulation of voter lists by the BJP in every election. 'Every time, the BJP invents a new method to tamper with the electoral roll. Our party workers must remain vigilant and ensure the lists are corrected in time,' he said.
On the UP government's decision to hand over the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) to the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), Akhilesh accused the BJP of planning to sell the asset under a 'well-thought-out strategy.'
He said the JPNIC was developed under the Samajwadi government as a world-class facility in honour of Jayaprakash Narayan, a prominent figure in the socialist movement. 'As soon as the BJP came to power, it made baseless allegations and dismantled the society governing the centre,' he said.
At the event, Akhilesh also honoured Mihi Lal Gautam, a labourer from Lakhimpur who survived a leopard attack on June 24. The incident took place at a brick kiln in Baburi village, where Gautam fought the animal with his bare hands. Akhilesh presented him with a cheque of ₹2 lakh for his courage.
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