Lucknow: With polling in West Bengal over, PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday hit the Uttar Pradesh political terrain running, training his guns at Samajwadi Party and calling it “anti-development” and “anti-women”.He categorically accused SP of siding with “those” (DMK) who “abused” UP in Parliament.“Samajwadi Party vikas virodhi bhi hai aur nari virodhi bhi hai… (The Samajwadi Party is both anti-development and anti-women),” Modi charged while addressing a gathering after inaugurating the 594-km-long Ganga Expressway in Hardoi.The PM underpinned how the SP and its ally Congress opposed the 131st Constitutional Amendment Act that sought to advance women reservation in Lok Sabha and state legislatures from 2029.The PM said the Center made it clear that the number of parliamentary seats for each state would increase proportionately. “But parties like DMK questioned why Uttar Pradesh’s seats should rise, and the SP stood with them,” he said.“SP leaders take your votes but stand with those who insult your state,” he added, claiming that the Akhilesh Yadav-led party “can never reform itself” and would continue to support appeasement and criminal elements.Modi’s caustic remarks assumed much significance amid intensifying political activity ahead of the high-stakes Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections due early next year. Women’s reservation has emerged as a key political issue, with parties staking out positions on its implementation.The PM further alleged that the SP remains entrenched in “nepotism and casteism” and would continue to pursue anti-development politics. He categorically urged voters to remain vigilant against the SP and its allies.The Prime Minister’s comments reflected BJP‘s broader strategy of pitching “development politics” against what it describes as the opposition’s identity-based politics. The party, as a matter of fact, has also been mounting an aggressive counter to the SP’s “Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (PDA)” poll narrative, which is believed to have impacted the BJP’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.“The Samajwadi Party members, who once indulged in the brazen misappropriation of resources and have since lost power, are finding the progress of Uttar Pradesh unacceptable …,” Modi said, accusing the opposition of conspiring to push the state back to “old days” when “crime and anarchy prevailed”.Modi said that UP was the land of Ram and Krishna, but previous governments made crime and anarchy the identity of the state.Referring to films made on the mafia in the state, Modi contrasted that period with the incumbent BJP govt, claiming that law and order in UP has significantly improved and is now cited as a model by other states.Emphasizing the Centre’s vision, Modi said India is working towards the goal of “Viksit Bharat,” with Uttar Pradesh playing a crucial role.Alluding to the US-Iran war, the PM said that while the whole world was facing a geopolitical crisis, India was treading its path to development. “This is not liked by some of the outside forces. Similarly, some people who are craving power too are conspiring to belittle the country,” he said, in an apparent broadside at the opposition.“Yet, we are not only safe but also setting new development benchmarks,” he said, reiterating the government’s commitment to boosting the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and expanding modern infrastructure.
