Lucknow, Aug 2026 : Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches at multiple locations linked to jailed former Rampur MP Azam Khan, accusing the ruling party of selectively targeting political opponents.
Yadav alleged that the BJP government was taking action against people associated with establishing educational institutions while allegedly overlooking individuals facing accusations of corruption and other irregularities. He claimed that the ED action was aimed at appeasing a small section of the BJP's supporters.
In a post on social media platform X, the SP chief accused the BJP and its allies of being “anti-education, anti-teacher and anti-student” and alleged that the government was targeting those involved in building universities. He questioned why similar action was not being taken against people whom he claimed were linked to various alleged scandals.
Yadav cited several issues while attacking the BJP government, including alleged irregularities surrounding donations to the Ram Temple, the alleged codeine-related scandal and the condition of major infrastructure projects in Uttar Pradesh.
The SP chief also criticised the state government's handling of roads and expressways. He claimed that the Bundelkhand Expressway had deteriorated, while the Purvanchal Expressway had developed damaged and uneven stretches. He further alleged that the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway had developed numerous potholes.
Raising broader concerns over infrastructure, Yadav questioned the government over alleged cracks in the green corridor, damaged roads and deteriorating bridges. He also referred to incidents involving collapsing water tanks, leaking roofs and damaged walls at railway stations, asking why accountability was allegedly lacking in such cases.
The Kannauj MP also levelled allegations concerning corruption among police officials in BJP-ruled states. He claimed that corrupt officers had been caught not only in Uttar Pradesh but elsewhere as well, and questioned why what he described as larger cases of alleged wrongdoing were not being pursued with similar intensity.
Yadav further raised questions about alleged financial irregularities during the Maha Kumbh and accused the government of failing to ensure transparency in the implementation of Smart City projects. He also alleged that some BJP representatives were involved in illegal construction on land without the necessary approvals.
“Why is action not being taken against those facing such allegations, while the ED is conducting searches against people associated with establishing universities?” Yadav asked, according to his social media post.
The SP president also referred to an alleged distribution involving around Rs 7,000 crore, claiming that publicity and controversial statements were being used to divert public attention from the underlying issue. He did not provide details in his post to substantiate the allegation.
His remarks followed ED searches at several locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi as part of a money-laundering investigation connected with Azam Khan and matters relating to the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and its associated trust.
The searches have brought the political confrontation between the SP and BJP into sharper focus, with Yadav portraying the ED action as an example of what he described as selective enforcement. The BJP and investigating agencies have maintained their own legal and investigative processes in cases under scrutiny, while the allegations raised by political parties remain subject to verification through the relevant proceedings.
The latest exchange is likely to further intensify the political contest in Uttar Pradesh, where the SP has consistently accused the BJP-led governments of using central investigative agencies against opposition leaders, while the BJP has maintained that investigative agencies act independently and in accordance with the law.
