BJP likes cow dung smell, building Gaushala: Akhilesh Yadav’s potshot evokes Premchand retort from UP Dy CM

Uttar Pradesh News: War of words broke out between Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya when the former took potshots at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kannauj. Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the BJP likes the “foul smell (of cow dung), that’s why they are building ‘gaushalas’ (cowsheds)”. However, this remark did not sit well with the BJP, as Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya invoked the renowned Hindi writer Munshi Premchand, warning of the potential “political extinction” of the Samajwadi Party.

‘Remove this BJP stench’

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, who was in Kannauj, asked the voters there to “remove this BJP stench completely”.

Speaking to the media in Kannauj on Wednesday, Yadav said, “Kannauj has always spread the fragrance of brotherhood, but the BJP spreads the stench of hatred. I urge the people of Kannauj to remove this BJP stench completely. It has been reduced to some extent, but next time, remove it entirely so that Kannauj’s stalled development can move forward.”

Akhilesh Yadav further remarked, “They like foul smell, that’s why they are building ‘gaushalas’ (cowsheds). We like fragrance, that’s why we were making a perfume park.”

“The government claims that it is capturing bulls, but they could not do so as the money for the task is being siphoned off. We are people who appreciate fragrance, while they are people of foul smell,” he added.

BJP hits back

Hitting back at Akhilesh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Maurya in a post on X said, “If a farmer’s son finds cow dung foul-smelling, it means he has lost touch with his roots and his society. Munshi Premchand once wrote that if a farmer’s son dislikes cow dung, famine is inevitable. If Akhilesh Yadav finds cow dung stinky, it is certain that his party is heading towards political extinction.”

UP leads in milk production

Uttar Pradesh, the leading milk-producing state in India, boasts a substantial population of dairy farmers. Uttar Pradesh is the highest milk-producing state in India, contributing around 18 per cent of the total milk production.

Following Uttar Pradesh are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

Uttar Pradesh’s dominance in milk production is largely attributed to initiatives supporting cattle farmers at both state and district levels. These efforts include awards like the Nand Baba and Gokul awards, which honour progressive farmers, and the implementation of advanced technologies such as sex selection to enhance cattle breeds.

Additionally, women’s groups also contribute to the dairy sector, exemplified by the Balini Milk Producer Company in Bundelkhand.

In Uttar Pradesh, the rural population constitutes approximately 77.73 per cent of the total population, while the urban population accounts for about 22.27 per cent

Who was Munshi Premchand?

Munshi Premchand, born Dhanpat Rai Srivastava in 1880, was a trailblazer in modern Indian literature. His works, penned in both Hindi and Urdu, delved into the complexities of Indian society, tackling themes such as caste, women’s rights, and the struggles of the working class.

With novels like Godaan, Karmabhoomi, and Gaban, Premchand left an indelible mark on the literary landscape of northern India.