New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister OP Rajbhar took a scathing jibe at Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Akhilesh Yadav over his foreign travels on Saturday and advised him to prioritise domestic tourism over going abroad.

The Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) national president penned a long post on X, mocking the SP chief over his foreign trips and asking him to explore diverse tourist spots in the country rather than frequently heading to London and Paris for vacation.

“Don’t look abroad, connect with your roots. See your own state first, then look at the world. But what can one say? You prefer London and Paris! You’ve cultivated such aristocratic tastes,” the UP minister said in a stinging jibe.

He also asked whether the SP supremo was listening to ‘qawwalis’ during family trips to London.

The SBSP leader further questioned Akhilesh’s devotion to his own state and whether he would give weightage to promoting tourism and boosting tourist influx in his own state rather than wandering abroad.

“If you simply wanted to travel, you could have gone to Kashi, Ayodhya, Mathura, Naimish, or paid your respects at the shrine of Mother Vindhyavasini,” Rajbhar said.

“Had you gone there, local traders would have found some employment. Poor vendors selling flowers, sweets, and prayer offerings would have benefitted, while small hoteliers and transport operators would have prospered. Media coverage would have given a boost to tourism in our own Uttar Pradesh,” he said in further taunt.

Stating that the era of Congress and Samajwadi Party is long gone, he said that this is the new India and new Uttar Pradesh, and under the incumbent governments, the country’s domestic tourism is flourishing, and it’s time that leaders like him mend their ways and start taking pride in the country’s own culture and pilgrimage.

“If you start exploring your country’s culture, pilgrimage sites, history, and diversity, even a lifetime wouldn’t be enough,” he said.

Further taking potshots, he said, “You prefer sitting in air-conditioned comfort, holding press conferences, and tweeting. You prefer singing the hollow tune of ‘PDA’ and shedding crocodile tears for the poor… yet, when it comes to travel, only London and Paris appeal to you.”

–IANS

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