Akhilesh Yadav, Yogi Adityanath’s main rival in Uttar Pradesh, rebuked the Chief Minister on Saturday for a remark that one of the prisoners in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bombings case had ties to the Samajwadi Party. Akhilesh Yadav told ANI, “Our chief minister is wonderful.”

Also read: Akhilesh Yadav under attack by the BJP for silence on Ahmedabad blasts convicts sentencing

“He didn’t know anything earlier… he doesn’t know anything now. The election in UP is about farmers’ rights, employment for youth.”

“It’s about reduction in inflation, electricity tariffs… How the state will progress – The election is being held on these issues,” the Samajwadi Party leader is heard dismissing the charges, in a video tweeted by ANI.

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UP CM Yogi Adityanath made these remarks earlier in the day. “An Ahmedabad court pronounced the quantum of sentence for 38 terrorists in the (2008) serial blasts case. Capital punishment and life imprisonment were awarded. They included some terrorists from UP too. And, the family of one of them was seen with the SP chief asking for votes for the party,” he was quoted by ANI.

“You can imagine. Nayi hawa hai, wahi SP hai. SP ka haath, aatankwadiyon ke saath. This has been proven once again,” the CM said.

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On Friday, 38 of the 49 people convicted in the serial bombings case were condemned to death, while the rest were given life sentences.

Other BJP leaders have made similar remarks. “Akhilesh Yadav ji  is fighting the elections. He is very much interested in becoming the chief minister. In his tenure, three incidents of terror strikes happened… he gives shelter to terrorists. He saves them… later court announces punishment,” BJP chief JP Nadda said at a rally. 

The heated exchange takes place just one day before the UP votes in the third round of voting. Karhal, which will see a high-profile struggle between Akhilesh Yadav and the BJP’s SP Baghel, whose convoy was allegedly attacked by “SP goons,” is one of the big ticket bouts on Sunday.

The results of the UP election will be declared on March 10.