LUCKNOW: A birthday poster depicting Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav as Lord Krishna sparked a political row on Wednesday, with the BJP accusing the SP of pursuing a “political agenda based on religious appeasement” and saying the party “never misses an opportunity to insult Sanatan Dharma.“The poster was unveiled by Samajwadi Party workers as Yadav celebrated his 53rd birthday. Around 25-30 members of the SP Yuvjan Sabha also organised a ‘havan’ in Varanasi to mark his birthday.SP Yuvjan Sabha state general secretary Ajay Fauji said the poster portraying Yadav as Lord Krishna holding a copy of the Constitution symbolised the Lok Sabha MP’s commitment to upholding the Constitution and justice.“We have depicted Akhilesh Yadav in the form of Lord Krishna holding the Constitution because he believes in the Constitution. Lord Krishna showed people the right path and stood for righteousness,” Fauji told PTI Videos.Referring to Hindu beliefs about the incarnation of Kalki, Fauji said, “Lord Kalki is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, just as Lord Krishna is,” adding that the poster conveys that Yadav is “walking on the path shown by Lord Krishna for the welfare of the country and its people”.Reacting to this, BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi demanded an apology from SP workers.“Those whose political agenda has always been based on religious appeasement, who never miss an opportunity to insult Sanatan Dharma, who created every possible obstacle in the construction of the Ram Lalla temple, and who have consistently avoided speaking even a word about Lord Krishna’s birthplace, portraying them as a deities an insult to God,” he said.“The Samajwadi Party workers responsible for this act should apologise. They will have to face the consequences of hurting the religious sentiments of devotees,” Tripathi added.Fauji also linked its symbolism to Yadav’s recent criticism of the alleged theft of offerings at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.“If he is raising his voice against the alleged theft of offerings at the Ram temple, he will always raise his voice for every temple. We want him to stand with every section of society and help the people,” he said.Explaining the purpose of the religious ceremony, Fauji said the participants prayed for justice and righteousness.“We offered prayers with the hope that Lord Kalki, regarded as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, would take birth in Kaliyuga. Lord Krishna always stood for justice, and we prayed that the same values continue to guide society,” he added.(With PTI inputs)
