New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has again hit out at his political rival Akhilesh Yadav. The CM during a rally in Hardoi on Monday claimed that one of the convict's father in the 2008 Gujarat serial blast case is an active Samajwadi Party worker.
While making the claims, CM Yogi sought an apology from the Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav. He also pointed towards the link of Azamgarh in the serial blast case.
"A Gujarat court has convicted 38 people in Ahmedabad blasts case. Of these, 8 have a connection with Azamgarh. Of these 8 convicts, a convict's father is an active Samajwadi Party worker. SP Chief should give clarification and apologise before the public," said CM Yogi as reported by news agency ANI.
Notably, Azamgarh is seen as an important constituency for the Samajwadi Party for its stronghold in the area. SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav had won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from here.
The comment by the CM has come after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a rally on Sunday also linked the Gujarat serial blast case with the Samajwadi Party. While addressing the voters PM Modi linked the 'bicycle' party symbol of SP to the blasts in Gujarat.
"Have you seen the polling symbol of SP? All the bombs in the initial blasts were planted on bicycles. I am so surprised, why did they use bicycles?"
Elections in Uttar Pradesh are being held in seven phases. The third phase of poling concluded on February 20 with a voter turnout of close to 63%. The remaining phases of elections are scheduled for February 23, February 27, March 3 and March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.