Yogi Adityanath Targets Samajwadi Party in Gonda, Invokes Foodgrain Scam

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Samajwadi Party while addressing a public gathering in Gonda, accusing its previous governments of neglecting development and presiding over corruption.

In his Yogi Adityanath Gonda speech, the Chief Minister also highlighted the district’s association with Ghanshyam, who later became widely revered as Swaminarayan.

Yogi Highlights Gonda’s Swaminarayan Connection

Adityanath said Ghanshyam was born into a Brahmin family in the region and later became known around the world as Lord Swaminarayan.

He contrasted what he described as Gonda’s spiritual and historical significance with what he claimed had been years of poor development and unemployment.

His description of previous governments’ record represents his political assessment.

‘Samajwadi Party Is a Curse for Uttar Pradesh’

Turning to the Samajwadi Party, Adityanath said:

“The Samajwadi Party is nothing but a curse for Uttar Pradesh.”

He alleged that whenever the SP came to power, the state suffered from corruption, unemployment and deterioration in governance.

The Samajwadi Party has previously rejected similar BJP attacks on its record and accused the ruling party of focusing on past governments rather than current issues. Recent reporting shows the BJP has increasingly invoked the SP’s previous terms as part of its political campaign ahead of future elections.

Yogi Invokes Gonda Foodgrain Scam

Adityanath also referred to what he described as the biggest foodgrain scam having taken place in Gonda during an earlier Samajwadi Party government.

The wider Uttar Pradesh foodgrain scam involved allegations that grain intended for poor families and workers under schemes such as the Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana, Antyodaya and the Public Distribution System was diverted and sold on the open market.

The irregularities first came to prominence in Gonda in 2003, before investigations expanded to multiple districts.

Estimates of Scam’s Scale Varied

Historical reports gave widely differing estimates for the Gonda component of the scam.

A preliminary inquiry cited an estimate of more than ₹457 crore, while the Uttar Pradesh government at the time disputed that figure and said the foodgrain component was closer to ₹28 crore.

Subsequent CBI and Enforcement Directorate investigations examined alleged diversion of subsidised foodgrain across several districts and possible links involving officials, politicians, contractors and private entities.

BJP Continues Attack on SP’s Governance Record

Adityanath has repeatedly accused previous SP governments of corruption, weak law and order and poor employment opportunities.

At recent political events, he has contrasted those claims with the BJP government’s development and welfare record.

The Yogi Adityanath Gonda speech therefore combined religious and historical references with a broader political attack on the Samajwadi Party’s past governance.