'Deplorable act': Akhilesh Yadav 'fact-checks' BJP leader's 'Pakistani MP' post with Fadnavis photo

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday hit back at BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for insinuating that he supported Pakistan, calling the remarks part of a “propaganda campaign” and describing them as “deplorable” and beneath dignity. He also shared a photo of a man in question with Devendra Fadnavis as a fact-check. Dubey had earlier shared this man's photo with Akhilesh Yadav.

Dubey had posted a photo of Akhilesh with a man named 'Saifullah', while mentioning that a Pakistani MP had praised the SP leader’s alleged pro-Pakistan statements.

Responding to the allegations, Yadav posted a strongly worded statement on X, accusing Dubey of spreading misinformation with the intent of character assassination. He called the act of sharing a photo with vague remarks aimed at tarnishing someone’s reputation deplorable and said it reflected a lack of dignity on the part of the BJP leader .

एक प्रतिष्ठित व्यक्ति की तस्वीर को गोलमोल बात के साथ पोस्ट करके अप्रत्यक्ष रूप से किसी और के संदर्भ में प्रस्तुत करके बदनाम करने की साज़िश, एक बेहद निम्न स्तरीय कृत्य है। किसी के मान-सम्मान से ऐसा खिलवाड़ वो ही कर सकता है जिसका अपना कोई मान-सम्मान या प्रतिष्ठा न हो। इसीलिए उसे… pic.twitter.com/KReCGcqA32

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 1, 2025

Yadav said that while one could consider filing a defamation case or seeking an apology, there was no point doing so against people whose apologies held no value.

“Posting a picture of a respected individual with vague remarks to indirectly tarnish someone else’s reputation is a thoroughly deplorable act,” Yadav said. “Only someone devoid of their own dignity or standing could toy with another’s honour in such a manner.”

संसद के बजट सत्र के दौरान भी लंदन में जश्न मनाते रहे समाजवादी पार्टी के मुखिया अखिलेश यादव जी के लिए बड़ी ख़ुशख़बरी,पाकिस्तान की संसद में सांसद सैफ़ुल्लाह ने कल पाकिस्तान के पक्ष में दिए उनके बयान पर ख़ुशी का इज़हार किया,अखिलेश यादव जी के भारत विरोधी बयान पर पाकिस्तान में ख़ुशी… pic.twitter.com/Pwh0LWBbvk

— Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) April 30, 2025

He further wrote, “If it were anyone else, one could file a defamation suit or demand an apology, but what can one expect from such irrelevant people whose apologies hold no worth?”

Taking aim at the BJP, Yadav added: “Why doesn’t the BJP openly appoint them as their minister of propaganda? How long will these poor ‘celebration-seekers’ continue to be puppets of their superiors, insulting others? The BJP will use them and then sideline them one day. Their good days are about to come to an end.”

A day earlier, Dubey had posted on X, “Pakistani MP Saifullah expressed joy yesterday over Akhilesh Yadav ji's statements in favour of Pakistan... It seems the Samajwadi Party chief will contest the next election from Islamabad?”