2019 illegal mining case: Akhilesh skips summons, calls CBI ‘BJP cell’

“Jo kagaz aaya tha, humne uska jawab de diya hai (I have given a reply to the paper that I received),” he added, referring to the CBI summons for questioning in an illegal mining case registered five years ago in which the SP chief is a witness.

Hitting out at the BJP, Akhilesh said, “The SP is on the maximum target (of the BJP). In 2019, I got a notice in some matters as there were Lok Sabha elections then. Now, when the election is approaching again, I am getting a notice again… I know, when the election comes, notice will also come. Why this nervousness? If you (BJP) have done a lot of work in the past 10 years, why are you nervous?” he asked.

His wife and SP MP Dimple Yadav accused the BJP of abusing the central probe agencies for personal gains. “He (Akhilesh) is not the first Opposition leader to have received the CBI summons. Efforts are being made to suppress every section of society. To create this pressure, government investigating agencies CBI and ED (Enforcement Directorate) are being misused,” the MP said in her constituency Mainpuri.

“The SP and Congress are going to contest the elections strongly under the INDIA alliance. The ruling party (BJP) is feeling its strength. That’s why notices are coming,” she added.

Stating the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is “crucial for saving democracy,” she said: “Look at the job market today. Even if jobs do come, papers are leaked… The economy of villages has been destroyed through schemes like Agniveer. Bad incidents are happening with women every day and the government is doing nothing.”