UP polls 2022: Those who talked of 'garmi' are numb after first leg, says SP chief Akhilesh Yadav

LUCKNOW: Claiming that SP and its alliance partners have swept the polls in the first phase, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took a jibe at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's "garmi shaant karwa denge" (will draw heat out of them) remark, saying that those who were talking about "garmi" have turned numb after first round of polling.
"Jo log keh rahe the garmi nikaal denge, pehle charan ka vote pada to haath pair thande ho gaye (Those who were threatening to draw the heat out of the opponents, have turned numb after the first phase of polling)," Akhilesh said addressing a public meeting in Badaun.
He addressed gatherings in Shahjahanpur as well. "People have voted in such a large number in favour of the SP and its alliance partners that BJP will be wiped out."
Striking an emotional chord with the people, Akhilesh said the ruling BJP had abandoned the people of the state during pandemic when their population needed the government the most.
"Government could not provide oxygen cylinders and beds in hospitals. People were left to fend for themselves. Had the government provided people with basic medical care, they would not have lost their loved ones in such a large number," he said, adding that such a government needs to be wiped out in the second phase as well.
He said not only the pandemic hit the people hard, the government also added to their suffering by leaving the price rise spiral uncontrolled and not providing jobs.
"Fuel prices are touching the sky. Farmers are not getting fertilizer, their crops are not fetching them the right price due to abysmal procurement on MSP," he said.