Akhilesh Yadav Targets Centre Over Rafale, Raises Alarm on China Threat

At a recent public event, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took a sharp dig at the central government, invoking the Rafale deal and concerns about national security. Mixing humour with warning, he said the BJP is more focused on silencing criticism than addressing serious issues like the growing threat from China. His remarks are already fueling fresh political conversations ahead of upcoming elections.

Yadav questioned the silence surrounding the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal, saying that those who questioned it were sidelined or attacked. He mocked the situation by saying “jin ki nimbo mirchi lagi thi” — a sarcastic comment suggesting the government got rattled when uncomfortable questions were raised.

He didn’t stop there. Shifting focus to the China border issue, Yadav accused the Centre of downplaying the threat posed by the neighbouring country. He said while India should be strengthening its defence strategies, the ruling party was instead busy managing headlines and deflecting attention.

The statement is being viewed as part of the opposition’s broader attempt to regain narrative control on national security and defence spending — areas typically dominated by the BJP. For voters in Tier 2 cities, where defence recruitment, border tensions, and patriotism are often top issues, these debates resonate strongly.

The BJP has so far not officially responded to Yadav’s comments, but party insiders suggest that such remarks are a distraction tactic ahead of elections. Meanwhile, the opposition sees it as a way to re-engage the public on issues of accountability and foreign policy.

As political campaigns heat up, national defence and procurement transparency are once again in focus. Whether Yadav’s comments will shift public opinion remains to be seen, but they’ve certainly reignited questions the government has long tried to put to rest