‘Even Ravana didn’t deceive sisters like BJP’: Akhilesh jabs UP govt over free bus travel promise

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday launched a sharp attack on the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over its free bus travel scheme for Raksha Bandhan, alleging that women were left struggling for transport despite the promise. Yadav shared a compilation of videos and social media complaints purportedly showing women facing difficulties in finding buses, securing seats and getting vehicles to stop at designated points. One of the clips showed a waterlogged and mud-filled bus depot in Prayagraj.

The Uttar Pradesh government had announced free travel for women, along with one accompanying person, on Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation buses from midnight on August 27 until midnight on Friday.

‘Bigger liars than Dashanan’

Using the festival to mount a political attack, Yadav compared the BJP with Ravana, alleging that the ruling party had betrayed women after promising them free travel.

“Even Ravana did not deceive his sisters the way they have,” Yadav said, accusing the BJP and its “sangi-saathi” — an apparent reference to the RSS and its affiliates — of being “bigger liars than Dashanan”. He said Ravana had resorted to deception once by changing his appearance, while accusing the BJP of repeatedly misleading people without changing its political guise.

Yadav also used the BJP’s lotus symbol to target the ruling party. Referring to the muddy conditions seen in the video, he said the BJP could “spread as much mud as it wants”, but its lotus would not bloom. He predicted that the BJP would be voted out and would not return to power, with Uttar Pradesh scheduled to hold Assembly elections next year.

Women flag shortage of buses

The video compilation shared by Yadav contained purported complaints from women at different locations in the state.

Some alleged that sufficient buses were not available despite the free travel arrangement, while others complained about overcrowding and the absence of seats.

There were also allegations that some buses did not stop at designated points, with passengers claiming drivers were attempting to avoid carrying women under the free-travel scheme.

The state government had instructed the transport department, police and district administrations to make arrangements for safe and smooth movement of women during the festival.

‘Helpless sisters’ jibe

In another post earlier on Friday, Yadav used a wordplay involving “bus” and the Hindi expression “be-bas”, meaning helpless, to ridicule the government’s announcement.

“Be-bus behnein (helpless sisters): After promising free buses on Raksha Bandhan, they removed the buses themselves,” he said.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also invoked the traditional expression about keeping one’s word even at the cost of one’s life, accusing the BJP of failing to honour its commitments.

The SP chief’s attack comes as political exchanges between the ruling BJP and the principal opposition party intensify ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.