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.

A proposed law that seeks to remove a Prime Minister, Chief Minister or minister from office after prolonged judicial custody is expected to move forward during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.

According to sources, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the legislation is expected to consider the revised draft at its meeting scheduled for July 17 ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which is set to begin on July 20.

Proposed provision targets prolonged custody

The proposed legislation provides that if a Prime Minister, Chief Minister or minister is accused of an offence punishable with five years or more of imprisonment and remains in judicial custody for 30 consecutive days, they would cease to hold office from the 31st day.

The proposed legislation was introduced last year and later referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee after opposition parties raised objections.  The revised version is expected to incorporate recommendations made by the committee before being placed before Parliament.

Opposition raises concerns

Opposition parties have opposed the proposal, arguing that it violates the principles of natural justice because it provides for removal based on detention rather than conviction. They have also raised concerns that the proposal could undermine the federal structure. 

Some opposition leaders on the Joint Parliamentary Committee are expected to submit dissent notes when the committee finalises its report.

Safeguards may be considered

Sources indicated that while the core provision is likely to remain unchanged, the committee may recommend certain safeguards to reduce the possibility of political misuse. These could include narrowing the scope of offences covered under the proposed law.

If approved by the Joint Parliamentary Committee, the revised bill is likely to be introduced during the Monsoon Session beginning later this month. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting with secretaries of various central ministries and departments in New Delhi, bringing together the government’s top bureaucrats for discussions on governance and policy priorities.

According to official sources, the meeting was attended by senior officials from across ministries and departments. While specific details of the discussions were not made public, the deliberations were expected to focus on administrative reforms, policy implementation and measures aimed at improving the ease of doing business.

Such interactions between the Prime Minister and senior bureaucrats are considered important for reviewing the progress of key government initiatives and ensuring coordination among ministries on priority programmes.

The meeting comes at a time when the Centre is continuing to push for faster decision-making, improved governance mechanisms and efficient implementation of flagship schemes across sectors. Senior officials are also expected to align their ministries’ priorities with the government’s broader development agenda.