External powers influencing India’s foreign policy: Akhilesh

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that India's foreign policy was influenced by external powers under the BJP-led central govt.Speaking to the media after attending a programme in Lucknow's Jankipuram area, the SP chief claimed that the BJP abandoned India's traditional policy of non-alignment and replaced it with what he described as "bloc-aligned diplomacy", thereby weakening the country's sovereignty and self-reliance.
He alleged that, for the first time, India's foreign policy decisions appeared to be dictated by foreign forces, claiming that the central govt looked to other countries for direction on key matters. According to him, the situation suggested that policy decisions were taken under external influence rather than in the country's independent interest.The former chief minister further alleged that the BJP govt was uncomfortable with "truth and honest voices", and claimed that even followers of Sanatan traditions felt uneasy under the present regime. Referring to recent controversies involving religious leaders, he alleged that the govt showed disrespect towards Shankaracharyas, which, he said, tarnished the image of Sanatan Dharma.The SP chief also criticised the BJP govt over rising prices and corruption, claiming that inflation and corruption have reached alarming levels and that people from all sections of society are facing hardships.SP chief greets women on Women's DayLucknow: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav extended greetings on International Women's Day on Sunday and called for a fundamental change in society's outlook towards women.In a statement, the SP chief said both the govt and society must continuously work for women's upliftment and empowerment. He said a society where women progress is considered progressive, adding that Indian traditions long respected women and daughters.However, Yadav alleged that women in Uttar Pradesh were the most insecure under the BJP govt, claiming incidents of crimes against women occurred on a large scale and that the govt failed to ensure their safety and provide employment opportunities.He also accused the Uttar Pradesh Police of manipulating crime data related to women, claiming figures of the National Crime Records Bureau indicated high insecurity for women in the state.