BJP Targets Akhilesh Yadav With Video Tweet, Alleges 'Samajwadi Party Is Supporting Talibani Mindset’

The tweet comes after SP MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq was booked on sedition charges for allegedly linking the struggle of freedom fighters for India's Independence to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

Lucknow: After Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath criticised the Taliban supporters within the country for supporting the stance of insurgent group taking over Afghanistan, the Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party posted a two-minute long video  on its official Twitter account targeting Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for "supporting Samajwadi Party leaders who have a Talibani mindset".

The allegation comes amid the politically charged state which is going to witness crucial elections next year with the BJP trying to maintain power after five years of governance under Yogi Adityanath.

While speaking at the Uttar Pradesh Assembly earlier, the CM said that those who support Taliban must be exposed before the society. The video tweet comes after the Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal Shafiqur Rahman Barq has been booked on sedition charges for allegedly linking the struggle of freedom fighters during India's Independence to the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, the police said, according to the Hindu report.

The video shows some of the appalling scenes from Kabul airport during evacuation of the people. The video went on to accuse leaders of Akhilesh Yadav's party of taking stand with those who share ideological mindsets of that of Taliban.

On August 18, Samajwadi Party leader Shafiqur Rahman Barq - the Lok Sabha MP from Sambhal said reporters that the Taliban "want Afghanistan to be free" and "want to run their own country".
"They want to be free. This is their personal matter. How can we interfere?" he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. He also said when India was occupied by the British, "the entire country fought for independence", PTI reported. However, Barq denied making such remarks and said his statement was misinterpreted.

So far, there have been no reactions from Akhilesh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party to the video tweeted. Yadav has so far avoided getting drawn into questions around his party's stand on the Taliban. Clarifying his stand, Akhilesh Yadav while talking to the ABP News at the Shikhar Sammelan summit on Saturday said, "The people of Afghanistan should be safe, that is the biggest priority." He added that it is up to the government to frame a comprehensive response to the developing situation in Afghanistan.