SP poster equating Akhilesh Yadav with Ambedkar sparks political row

LUCKNOW: Senior BJP members, including Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak and UP minister Asim Arun, have condemned the Samajwadi Party for replacing half of BR Ambedkar's image with Akhilesh Yadav in a hoarding.
Calling the act deeply shameful, they accused SP of insulting Babasaheb and hurting the sentiments of his followers.
Calling it a reflection of SP's corrupt mentality, Pathak said the deliberate insult to Babasaheb will never be accepted by the people, and the party will face consequences at the right time. Pathak reminded that this isn't the first time SP has shown disregard for Ambedkar, citing the removal of Ramabai Ambedkar's name from a medical college and Kanpur Dehat district during SP govt. He added that SP's hatred for Babasaheb is now evident through this poster and assured strict action against those responsible.
The Deputy CM demanded that Akhilesh immediately remove his image from the altered hoarding and issue a public apology to the Dalit community. "If he has even a shred of respect for Dr. Ambedkar, he should apologise without delay," Pathak said.
Asim Arun termed it a deliberate and repeated act of disrespect. He asserted that portraying Akhilesh Yadav as equal to Babasaheb reflects a corrupt mindset and is a legal offence as well as an attack on the faith of Ambedkar's followers. Arun added that SP has a history of undermining Dalit and backward class welfare, recalling how Akhilesh Yadav had scrapped several welfare schemes during his tenure.
Dalit thinker and MLC Lalji Prasad Nirmal said Ambedkarites will not tolerate any insult to the Dalit icon. He accused SP chief of being anti-Dalit, citing his decision to ban reservation in promotions for Dalit personnel, which caused significant hardship for Dalit officers and employees.
Nirmal added that the Dalit community has not forgotten this and sees Yadav's act of replacing part of Babasaheb's image with his own as a deliberate insult, aimed at equating himself with the revered leader.
Rajya Sabha member Brij Lal condemned the hoarding and the message conveyed through it. He criticized SP chief for equating himself with Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar.
He said people will not forgive him for this insult. BJP MLA Meenakshi Singh criticized the SP for talking about PDA while simultaneously insulting Babasaheb. Singh also pointed out that Akhilesh Yadav's silence on the matter suggests his tacit approval of the insult. She demanded an apology from Yadav, stating that she and the Dalit community would never tolerate such disrespect.