Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that India’s foreign policy was being shaped under the influence of external powers during the tenure of the BJP led central government.
Speaking to reporters after attending an event in Lucknow’s Jankipuram area, Yadav claimed that the government had moved away from the country’s long-standing non-aligned approach in international relations and replaced it with what he described as “bloc-aligned diplomacy”.
According to him, such a shift weakened India’s independence in global decision-making and raised concerns about the country’s sovereignty and self-reliance.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister further alleged that key diplomatic decisions appeared to be guided by foreign forces, suggesting that the central leadership was looking abroad for direction on important matters rather than prioritising India’s independent interests.
Yadav also criticised the ruling party on domestic issues, accusing it of being uncomfortable with dissenting voices. Referring to recent controversies involving religious leaders, he claimed that the government had shown disrespect toward Shankaracharyas, which, he said, damaged the image of Sanatan Dharma.
The SP leader further targeted the government over rising inflation and alleged corruption, stating that increasing prices were creating hardships for people across different sections of society.
Meanwhile, Yadav also extended greetings on International Women’s Day and emphasised the need for a shift in societal attitudes towards women.
In a statement, he said both the government and society must work consistently to ensure women’s empowerment and welfare. He noted that a society where women progress is regarded as progressive and said Indian traditions have historically respected women and daughters.
However, he alleged that women in Uttar Pradesh faced insecurity under the current administration, claiming incidents of crimes against women remained high and employment opportunities were limited. He also accused the state police of manipulating crime data related to women, citing figures from the National Crime Records Bureau to support his claims.