Akhilesh Yadav's Jab After PM's Latest Pitch From UP Government Event

Mr Yadav responded to PM Modi by jumping on the BJP's catchphrase for this election - 'fark saaf hai', or 'the difference is clear' - to hit back.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi, again, used a government event to take pot-shots at his rivals ahead of elections due in two months, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav hit back swiftly, questioning the ruling BJP's use of non-political platforms for campaign purposes.

Mr Yadav highlighted the use of government buses to ferry crowds of people back and forth from lavish events held by the BJP - ostensibly to inaugurate infrastructure projects - but which wind up being platforms for the Prime Minister or Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to launch political attacks.

"Has any political party used buses like this in the past? Have any District Collectors written letters asking for buses and people to be arranged like this... these are all political rallies that are happening. Has the BJP managed to hold any actual political rallies till now?" Mr Yadav asked.

This isn't the first time Mr Yadav has called out the BJP for its double-use of government events; last month, at a political rally, the Samajwadi Party leader claimed the difference between his party's events and that of the BJP's was people "coming on their own" and "brought" for meetings".