Lucknow, Aug 19 (IANS) Samajwadi Party (SP) chief, Akhilesh Yadav, on Wednesday launched a strong attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches at several locations linked to jailed former Rampur MP, Azam Khan. Yadav accused the BJP of targeting those involved in establishing educational institutions while "ignoring" other individuals facing allegations of corruption and wrongdoing. Taking to social media, Yadav claimed that the action was intended to appease the BJP's remaining 1-2 per cent "communal, narrow-minded" supporters.

"Anti-education, anti-teacher, and anti-student BJP members and their allies, who shut down schools, are conducting ED raids against those building universities, just so they can appease their remaining 1-2 per cent supporters who cling to communal, narrow-minded illogical thinking, while no action is being taken against those corrupt individuals involved in the following criminal scandals," Yadav posted on X, while listing several alleged "scandals".

In the list, the SP chief referred to the Ram Temple donation theft case, the codeine scandal and the poor condition of several expressways while questioning the BJP government over its handling of these issues.

Yadav claimed that several major roads and infrastructure projects in Uttar Pradesh have deteriorated during the BJP government's tenure. He claimed that the Bundelkhand Expressway has fallen into disrepair, while the Purvanchal Expressway has become rutted and the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway has developed numerous potholes.

The Kannauj MP further questioned the BJP government over alleged cracks in the green corridor, damaged roads, deteriorating bridges, collapsing water tanks, leaking roofs and station walls that he claimed were falling apart.

Yadav also raised allegations concerning corruption involving police officials in BJP-ruled states, claiming that corrupt officers have been caught not only in Uttar Pradesh but also in other states. He questioned the alleged misappropriation of funds during the Maha Kumbh Mela and raised allegations of widespread corruption in the implementation of Smart City projects.

The SP chief further alleged that BJP representatives were involved in illegal construction on land that had not received the necessary approvals.

He questioned why action was allegedly not being taken against those facing such allegations while the ED was conducting searches against individuals associated with the establishment of universities.

Yadav also claimed that a purported distribution involving around Rs 7,000 crore had taken place, claiming that a layer of publicity was added to the alleged wrongdoing and objectionable statements in an attempt to divert attention from the issue.

His remarks came after the ED conducted searches at multiple locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to Azam Khan and matters concerning the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and its associated trust.

--IANS