BJP fears creative expression as it will strengthen ‘anti-establishment wave’, says Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday (August 2, 2026) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misusing the talent of helpless and vulnerable artistes to further its own political interests. The BJP fears expression of creativity as it will further strengthen the “anti-establishment wave”, Mr. Yadav said after making an “offering” of ₹51,000 each to two Ramlila artistes, who play Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman. The BJP stands for “bhrasht” (corrupt), “julm” (oppression), and “paap” (sin), the Opposition leader said. All major problems in Uttar Pradesh would end only after the BJP was voted out of power, he said.

Mr. Yadav took to social media platform X to address creative professionals. “Dear artistes and creators, The way the Bharatiya Janata Party misused the talent of a helpless and vulnerable artiste to further its own political interests is highly condemnable. Everyone knows that a few days ago, during the arrival of the BJP’s national president (Nitin Nabin) in Lucknow, an artiste dressed as Hanuman was made to dance in front of his (Mr. Nabin’s) chariot. This has caused deep resentment among devotees of Bajrangbali (Lord Hanuman) worldwide to this day. This is not the fault of any poor artiste forced to support their families, as there is no place for artistes in the BJP government. Negative BJP members have always been opposed to creativity as it (creativity) forges a new path against conventions and orthodoxies, which the BJP’s conservative thinking does not like at all since they fear the expression of creativity will further strengthen the ‘anti-establishment wave’. Therefore, whether it’s a writer, an honest journalist, or any artiste, these BJP members and their allies do not want them to speak out or find any platform for their artistic expression. If the BJP ever gives artistes an opportunity, it’s for its (the party’s) own respect, not for theirs (the artistes’),” Mr. Yadav said in his post, along with images of the Ramlila artistes he had awarded.

“Today, we altogether helped the artiste who is facing financial crises, and will continue to do so (support artistes) in future so that he can face the illness and misery going on in his family. Artistry refines humanity. Art promotes tolerance, harmony, camaraderie, and equality, which is why those who engage in negative divisive politics are opposed to artistes,” Mr. Yadav added.

“Today, we promise to every artiste that just as we gave every type of respect and financial support to artistes during our government even after the coming of the new government, we will take that healthy tradition of creativity forward and will felicitate the special, talented people associated with Uttar Pradesh for their social contribution by giving them the ‘Yash Bharti Samman’ and ₹1 lakh per month for life,” the SP chief said.

The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh had closed more than 26,000 government primary schools since assuming power in 2017, Mr. Yadav also alleged on Sunday, claiming this had been done to deny education to children from the PDA (Pichhda or Backward Class, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak or Minority) communities. “Uttar Pradesh had 1,13,938 government primary schools until March 2017, when the BJP came to power. More than 26,000 of them have been closed since then,” the SP leader said.