Akhilesh Yadav Alleges ‘Yogi Sena’ Behind Attack on Dalit MP’s House, Accuses State of Intimidating Minorities
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday made a sharp attack on the Uttar Pradesh government, claiming that the violent mob which vandalised the Agra residence of SP’s Dalit MP Ramjilal Suman were not members of the Karni Sena, as previously believed, but were aligned with what he described as “Yogi Sena” — a reference to supporters of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Speaking to reporters after visiting Suman’s house in Agra, Yadav alleged, “There’s no such thing as Karni Sena in reality. The people involved in the attack were all part of the Yogi Sena.
The whole incident was staged to create the impression that the Rajput community is firmly behind the chief minister.”
The attack, which took place on March 27, was reportedly in retaliation to a statement made by Suman in the Rajya Sabha on March 21, where he had criticised the 16th-century Rajput king, Rana Sanga.
The statement sparked outrage among Rajput groups and was later expunged from the House records.
Akhilesh did not mince words as he accused the BJP-led state government of orchestrating the attack to intimidate Dalits and minority communities.
“This attack was a state-sponsored exercise. These people arrived with weapons in hand, parading them around as a show of force, all aimed at spreading fear among Dalits and minorities,” Yadav alleged.
Drawing a historical parallel, he further said, “Just like Hitler used his army to silence dissent, the Yogi Sena is doing the same here in Uttar Pradesh.
This is less about ideology and more about an internal power struggle — a contest for supremacy between the ruling elite at the Centre and the power center here in the state.”
Yadav’s remarks also hint at the growing perception that Adityanath is trying to consolidate his image as the strongest leader of the Rajput community in Indian politics, possibly aiming to step into Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s shoes in the future.
Despite the Karni Sena’s earlier declaration that it would prevent Akhilesh from entering Agra, SP workers had already mobilised in large numbers across the city ahead of his arrival, effectively neutralising any such threat.
The police had also enforced strict security measures, sealing off key roads along Yadav’s route to prevent any disruption.
Addressing his supporters at the site, Yadav clarified, “I have not come here to showcase strength but to stand with our MP and send a clear message to those who seek to threaten Dalits and other marginalised groups.
Everyone knows who is behind these attacks.”
Akhilesh also highlighted a series of recent incidents where Dalits were allegedly targeted, including the killing of Devi Shankar, a Dalit farmer from Allahabad’s Karchhana tehsil, whose body was found burnt on April 13.
A Samajwadi Party delegation had visited the bereaved family, offering ₹2 lakh in assistance, while police arrested eight suspects in the case.
Another incident Yadav pointed to involved an attack on a Dalit groom’s wedding procession in Agra’s Etmadpur area, where upper-caste locals allegedly assaulted the wedding party for riding a horse and playing music, customs often targeted in caste-related tensions. While a case has been filed, the accused remain at large.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya dismissed Yadav’s allegations and took a swipe at the SP, quipping that the party has turned into the “Samaptwadi Party” (a play on the Hindi word ‘samapt’ meaning ‘ended’) under Akhilesh’s leadership.
“He is only defending wrongdoers, and his words carry no weight. The people of Uttar Pradesh will never hand over power to them again,” Maurya said.
Political analysts believe the increasing involvement of fringe groups like Karni Sena in such controversies could damage the BJP’s efforts to maintain support among Dalit voters, a key demographic in Uttar Pradesh politics.
In a related development, the Uttar Pradesh Police in Aligarh arrested a Karni Sena activist, Mohan Chauhan, who allegedly made provocative and abusive remarks against Akhilesh Yadav in a viral video.
Authorities said his comments were inflammatory and posed a threat to public order, prompting his arrest from his residence under the jurisdiction of Jawan police station on Friday night.
