Akhilesh's 'cheap political view' is insult to Gujarat: Rupani

Lambasting former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav over his 'martyr' remark, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Wednesday said the former's cheap political view is an insult to the state and its people.

"I think Akhilesh ji's statement is an effect of frustration after loss in Uttar Pradesh polls. It's a cheap political view. This is a way of defaming Modi ji. This is an insult of Gujarat and Gujarati people," Rupani told the media.

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 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.