India News | SP's 'PDA' Include Women, Tribals, Forwards: Akhilesh Yadav

Lucknow, Oct 30 (PTI) Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said his party's 'Pichhde, Dalit, Alpsankhyak' include the half of India's population -- the women --, the tribals, as well as the forward section of the society.

"Be it 'Agde' or 'Adivasi,' or 'Adhi Abadi' everyone is included in the PDA for whom our party is battling," Yadav, who reached Lucknow with his PDA yatra, told reporters.

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'PDA' is a term coined by the party to refer to the backward, Dalits, and minorities.

He said the rally, which reached Lucknow on Monday, has already covered more than 5,000 km across the state. The yatra will conclude in Etawah's Saifai on November 22.

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He said the yatra is being taken out to raise awareness about the threat to social justice and rights and honour of the people, and to press for a caste census.

Replying to a question on PDA, he said, "PDA is the party's strategy while INDIA is the opposition's alliance. PDA is important and we are working to associate people with it."

"It is also for saving the country from the forces conspiring to divide it," he said.

"The path to the nation's (Delhi throne) will go through Uttar Pradesh only," said the SP president, in an obvious reference to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Yadav also criticised the state of health infrastructure in UP under the Yogi Adityanath government.

"Dengue is spreading fast and in some villages 20 deaths were reported. But the state government is sleeping. Son of an MP died in SGPGI here for lack of treatment," he said, adding that the government is not spending enough money on health.

"BJP only indulges in conspiracies and spreads rumours through you (media). It has nothing new to show," said Yadav before starting his yatra.

The yatra started from Purvanchal Expressway and covered a distance of about 20 kms on cycle, which is also the party's election symbol, to culminate at Janeshwar Mishra park in the Gomti Nagar area.

The yatra took over 3.30 hours to reach the park. Its route was chosen to highlight the works done during the SP government helmed by Yadav.

It passed through Amul plant, cancer hospital, HCL, Palassio Mall/Ekana stadium, the police headquarter, and also Janeshwar Mishra park, all constructed under the SP government.

On the Andhra Pradesh train accident, Yadav said such events have exposed the government's claims of having the technology that will alert about potential risks. "What kind of 'kavach' is this?"

Talking to reporters after the yatra, Yadav said 'Sabka, Saath, Sabka Vikas' slogan of BJP is 'farzi' (fake).

Asked about Dalit sammelan being organised by the BJP in the state, Yadav said, "What can you expect from those who meet Dailts only after they have been given a bath with a soap."

He said that SP will move forward with all the parties which are with it and people will wipe out the BJP in the 2024 polls.

He also alleged that BJP wanted to finish the Constitution made by Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, a Dalit icon.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)