A political controversy erupted in Uttar Pradesh after Samajwadi Party (SP) workers unveiled a birthday poster portraying party chief Akhilesh Yadav as Lord Krishna during celebrations marking his 53rd birthday on Wednesday.

The poster was displayed in Varanasi, where around 25 to 30 members of the SP Yuvjan Sabha also participated in a ‘havan’ organised to celebrate the occasion.

SP Yuvjan Sabha state general secretary Ajay Fauji said the artwork was intended to represent Akhilesh Yadav’s commitment to protecting the Constitution and delivering justice.

According to Fauji, the poster showed Yadav holding a copy of the Constitution because he believes in constitutional values. He said Lord Krishna guided people towards righteousness and justice, and the depiction was meant to symbolise those ideals.

SP explains symbolism behind the poster

Explaining the concept further, Fauji referred to the Hindu belief surrounding Lord Kalki, who is regarded as a future incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He said the poster conveyed that Akhilesh Yadav was following the path of Lord Krishna by working for the welfare of the country and its people.

He also linked the symbolism to Yadav’s recent remarks regarding the alleged theft of offerings at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Fauji said that if Yadav raises his voice over such issues, he would continue to speak in support of all temples and every section of society.

Speaking about the religious ceremony, Fauji said participants prayed for justice and righteousness to prevail. He added that they also prayed for values associated with Lord Krishna to continue guiding society.

BJP criticises the portrayal, seeks apology

The poster drew sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused the Samajwadi Party of hurting religious sentiments.

BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said leaders and workers associated with a political ideology that, according to him, has relied on religious appeasement should not portray political figures as Hindu deities.

He alleged that the Samajwadi Party had opposed the construction of the Ram temple and had remained silent on issues related to Lord Krishna’s birthplace. Tripathi described the poster as an insult to religious beliefs and demanded that the SP workers responsible issue a public apology.

He also warned that those involved would have to face public backlash for hurting the sentiments of devotees.

The Central government has directed Meta not to introduce WhatsApp’s upcoming username feature in India until consultations with the authorities are completed. The company has also been asked to submit a detailed explanation of the proposed feature within three days, according to sources.

The decision temporarily halts the rollout of a feature that would have allowed users to communicate on WhatsApp without sharing their mobile numbers.

Government seeks details on new feature

Sources said the Centre has issued a notice to Meta asking the company to explain how the username feature will function and its potential impact. Until discussions with the government are concluded, the feature cannot be launched in the country.

The directive comes as Meta was preparing to introduce the feature in phases for WhatsApp users.

Feature aims to improve privacy

The proposed username system would enable users to choose a unique username that others can use to connect with them instead of their phone number. The feature is intended to provide an additional layer of privacy by reducing the need to share personal contact details while interacting on the messaging platform.

At present, users generally need a phone number to start a conversation on WhatsApp.

Rollout was planned in phases

Meta had planned to begin the rollout in stages. As part of the initial phase, users were expected to start reserving usernames this week, while the broader launch of the feature was scheduled for later this year.

The company said it opened early reservations due to WhatsApp’s global user base of more than 3 billion people.

Meta says feature protects phone number privacy

Responding to the development, Meta said the username feature has been designed to protect users’ phone number privacy by allowing people to connect without disclosing their mobile numbers.

Whether the rollout timeline changes will depend on the outcome of the government’s consultations with the company.

Domestic airlines have received some relief after the Centre reduced the price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) by Rs 5 per litre with effect from July 1. The move is expected to lower fuel expenses for carriers, although there has been no official announcement regarding any reduction in airfares.

The effective ATF price has been brought down to Rs 110 per litre from the earlier Rs 115 per litre.

Bulk ATF price reduced to Rs 1.10 lakh per kilolitre

On a bulk purchase basis, the price of aviation turbine fuel has been reduced from Rs 1.15 lakh per kilolitre to Rs 1.10 lakh per kilolitre.

The reduction comes as the Centre revised export duties on petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel from July 1. However, the excise duty on petrol and diesel sold in the domestic market remains unchanged.

Fuel is one of the biggest operating expenses for airlines, and the latest price cut is expected to provide some financial relief to domestic carriers by reducing their fuel costs.