SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav Fires Back at UP CM Yogi Adityanath with Poetic Retort

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Lucknow - Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav counter-attacked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday with a poetic response, escalating the war of words over allegations linked to the illicit codeine cough syrup trade. The spat began when Adityanath targeted Yadav with a couplet on Friday, sparking a heated exchange between the two leaders. At a press conference at the SP headquarters, Yadav accused the government of trying to shift focus by circulating photographs and making baseless allegations, rather than taking action against those responsible for the illicit trade. He called for swift and decisive action against all parties involved, regardless of their political affiliations, emphasizing that the issue affects not just Uttar Pradesh but also the prime minister's constituency, Varanasi. Responding to Adityanath's poetic remark, Yadav revealed that while he may not be a poet himself, veteran party member Uday Pratap, seated beside him, is a renowned literary figure. Yadav then recited a couplet from Pratap's work, targeting the chief minister: 'Apna chehra na ponchha gaya aapse, aaina bewajah tod kar rakh diya' (Your face has not been tarnished, but the mirror has been smashed unnecessarily). Adityanath had earlier said, 'Yahi kasoor main baar-baar karta raha, dhool chehre par thi aur aaina saaf karta raha' (This is the mistake I keep repeating - the dust on my face is visible, and I am trying to clean the mirror). He claimed that photographs showed the SP chief with alleged mafias and that the investigation would reveal the truth. Yadav further launched a scathing poetic attack on the government, accusing it of shielding its own people while blaming others. He read out a part of the poem, saying: 'Yahi kasoor raha inka, ye apnon ko har haal mein bachate rahe, unke gunaah chhupate rahe; jab khulne laga raaz inka to auron par ilzaam lagate rahe' (This is their crime - they continue to protect their own people, hide their own wrongdoings, and blame others when their secrets are exposed). Yadav also cautioned against the spread of misinformation on social media, particularly with regards to false attributions of renowned poets' couplets. He referred to noted lyricist Javed Akhtar's public remarks on this issue, citing the example of Mirza Ghalib's misattributed couplets.