SP-BSP tie-up to fulfil dreams of Lohia, Ambedkar: Akhilesh

With an SP-BSP tie-up on the cards for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today invoked Ram Manohar Lohia and Bhim Rao Ambedkar -- the icons of the two parties respectively -- and talked about "fighting unitedly" to fulfil their dreams.

"Lohia and Ambedkar had advocated a united fight for justice and unity for strengthening the country's future. We have got a chance to fulfil this dream," he told SP workers after hoisting the national flag at the party headquarters here.

"The future of the country can be strengthened with economic and social equality and unity. This was also the dream of Lohia and Ambedkar. In 1956, both had written to each other and decided to work unitedly. However, in 1956, Ambedkar died...but now we have got a chance to fulfil their dream," Yadav said.

In an apparent attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said opposition parties were an important part of a democracy, but it was unfortunate that they were being described as "daldal" (swamp) by the ruling party leader.

Addressing a "Kisan Kalyan" rally at Shahjahanpur last month, Modi had said, "There is not just one 'dal' (political party) but 'dal' over 'dal', resulting in 'daldal' (swamp), which will only help the lotus bloom."