Rahul Must Have his Reasons for ‘Khoon ki Dalali’ Remark: Akhilesh

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday backed Rahul Gandhi’s ‘khoon ki dalali’ barb at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the Congress Vice-President must have had his reasons for making the controversial statement.

Rahul's remarks that the Modi government was "profiteering" from the blood of the soldiers had drawn criticism from the BJP, which accused him of insulting the armed forces in the wake of the Indian Army’s surgical strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-held territory. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Sharad Pawar’s NCP, too, had disapproved of Rahul's remarks.

Akhilesh, too, took a dig at Modi on Monday, questioning his decision to celebrate Vijayadashmi in Lucknow, the capital city of poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.

"Had there been elections in Bihar, he (Modi) would have slayed Ravan there," Akhilesh said.

"There should be no politics over festivals. He is coming to Lucknow, he will give something big to us. We have expectations from him for progress of the state," the CM said, addressing the media at an event at his official 5 Kalidas Marg residence.

(With PTI inputs)