Akhilesh making unrestrained narrative out of frustration: BJP

Slamming former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's 'martyrs' remark, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday said a jawan belongs to the entire nation and not to a particular state.

BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Shrikant Sharma said Akhilesh is making such unrestrained narrative out of frustration of his defeat.

"Akhilesh Yadav's statement is shameful. We condemn it in strong words. A jawan belongs to the entire nation, not to a particular state. Akhilesh has been unable to save his defeat and that is why he is giving such unrestrained narrative. He can criticize the BJP Government because that is his work. But he should not bring the army into politics," Sharma told ANI.

Raising the voice in the same form, Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant said while making statements regarding nation, one should keep in mind not to hurt the unity of the nation.

"I urge all the politicians that when they make any statements regarding nation, we should keep in mind that we do not hurt the unity of the nation. Every state can be proud of jawans belonging to their state, but should not comment on other states," Sawant told ANI.

Indirectly criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yadav earlier in the day asked why is it that soldiers from all parts of the country are sacrificing their lives, except for those hailing from Gujarat.

Akhilesh asked, "Many soldiers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and even from southern India have sacrificed their lives for the country, but do tell me if any soldier from Gujarat has done so?"

Referring to the recent ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Krishna Ghati sector of Jammu and Kashmir, where two Indian soldiers were killed and mutilated by Pakistan's Border Action Team ( BAT), Akhilesh questioned the lack of debate over the matter.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) leader further alleged that the Modi government was indulging in politics of martyrs, nationalism and Vande Mataram.

This is not the first time that Akhilesh has targeted the Prime Minister. Earlier, in the run up to the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Yadav had urged Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan not to advertise 'donkeys' of Gujarat.