NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday hit back at BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for insinuating that he supported Pakistan, calling the remarks part of a “propaganda campaign” and describing them as “deplorable” and beneath dignity. He also shared a photo of a man in question with Devendra Fadnavis as a fact-check. Dubey had earlier shared this man’s photo with Akhilesh Yadav.
Dubey had posted a photo of Akhilesh with a man named ‘Saifullah’, while mentioning that a Pakistani MP had praised the SP leader’s alleged pro-Pakistan statements.
Responding to the allegations, Yadav posted a strongly worded statement on X, accusing Dubey of spreading misinformation with the intent of character assassination. He called the act of sharing a photo with vague remarks aimed at tarnishing someone’s reputation deplorable and said it reflected a lack of dignity on the part of the BJP leader.
Yadav said that while one could consider filing a defamation case or seeking an apology, there was no point doing so against people whose apologies held no value.
“Posting a picture of a respected individual with vague remarks to indirectly tarnish someone else’s reputation is a thoroughly deplorable act,” Yadav said. “Only someone devoid of their own dignity or standing could toy with another’s honour in such a manner.”
He further wrote, “If it were anyone else, one could file a defamation suit or demand an apology, but what can one expect from such irrelevant people whose apologies hold no worth?”
Taking aim at the BJP, Yadav added: “Why doesn’t the BJP openly appoint them as their minister of propaganda? How long will these poor ‘celebration-seekers’ continue to be puppets of their superiors, insulting others? The BJP will use them and then sideline them one day. Their good days are about to come to an end.”
A day earlier, Dubey had posted on X, “Pakistani MP Saifullah expressed joy yesterday over Akhilesh Yadav ji’s statements in favour of Pakistan… It seems the Samajwadi Party chief will contest the next election from Islamabad?”