Akhilesh Yadav Brands Modi 3.0 a "Defeated Government" in Sarcastic Lok Sabha Speech

Samajwadi Party Chief Predicts Collapse, Lauds "Pro-India" Opposition Victory

In a fiery and poetic address in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav dubbed the third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government as a "defeated government" and predicted its imminent collapse. Yadav's speech, filled with sarcasm and literary flair, struck at the heart of the BJP-led administration's perceived arrogance and the electoral setbacks it has faced.

Thanking the “samajhdar” (mature) voters for preserving democracy and preventing a one-party rule, Yadav commenced his address by acknowledging the electoral blow dealt to the BJP in Uttar Pradesh by his party and the Congress. "Awaam ne tod diya hukumat ka guroor; darbar toh laga hai, bada gamgeen benoor hai par (People have shattered the government’s arrogance; the court has been spread out but the mood is sombre and listless)," he quipped, emphasizing the ruling party's reliance on allies to stay in power.

Yadav didn't hold back, stating, "It feels that for the first time a defeated government is in office. The people are saying that this is a government that won’t run but collapse." He described the administration as lacking any solid foundation with the poetic line, “Upar se juda koi taar nahi, niche koi aadhaar nahi, adhar mein jo hai atki hui, woh toh koi sarkar nahi.”

Highlighting the Opposition bloc's success, Yadav asserted, "Pura India yeh samajh gaya hai ki INDIA hi pro-India hai (Entire India knows that INDIA is pro-India)," celebrating a "moral victory" and the triumph of “positive social justice politics.”

The Samajwadi Party leader compared the recent poll results to India’s independence from colonial rule in 1947, calling June 4, 2024, a day of independence from communal politics. He declared it the beginning of “samudayik rajniti (community politics)” and emphasized the newfound responsibility on the INDIA bloc to foster inclusivity and social justice.

Yadav critiqued the government’s boasts about India's economic standing, questioning why indices such as per capita income, hunger, and happiness were overlooked. “Why does the government hide how we are placed in per capita income, where we stand on hunger index, happiness index?” he asked, facing silence from BJP benches.

He took a pointed jab at Modi's divisive politics, asserting that the country's governance will now be driven by grassroots voices rather than personal ambitions. “The Constitution has won…. The top-down approach of politics has been defeated and now politics will be driven by the voices of the people on the ground,” he said, drawing applause from Opposition members. “Manmarzi (whims) won’t work, jan-marzi (will of the people) will.”

Continuing his criticism, Yadav reiterated his opposition to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), even in light of the Samajwadi Party's good performance in the polls. He also expressed his disapproval of the Agnipath scheme and highlighted perceived neglect of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath by the Modi-Amit Shah regime. “The people of UP are bearing the brunt of the one-upmanship between two persons,” he hinted, alluding to a rumored rivalry between Shah and Adityanath.

Yadav condemned the rise of examination paper leaks, accusing the government of deliberately engineering leaks to avoid providing jobs. “The achievements of the past 10 years is the birth of a competitive exam mafia…. ‘Amrit kaal’ has poisoned the hopes of youngsters,” he lamented, referring to irregularities in the NEET-UG medical entrance test.

With a poetic flourish, Yadav implied Adityanath's sidelining during the Ram temple inauguration. “Huzoor e ala khamosh baithe isi gham mein, mehfil lut le gaya koi jab sajai thi humne,” he said, suggesting that someone else's efforts had been overshadowed by another's actions.

In closing, Yadav celebrated the victory of Dalit leader Awadhesh Prasad from Faizabad, the seat of the Ram temple, by invoking divine will. “Hoiheen sohi jo Ram rachi rakha (What Lord Ram wills, happens),” he declared, turning towards Prasad who rose to greet the House amid loud cheers.