News Brief
UP Political Row: BJP Ally Apna Dal Leader Ashish Patel Alleges Conspiracy Against Him By STF, Anupriya Patel Backs Him
Apna Dal (S) leader Anupriya Patel
Union Minister and Apna Dal (Soneylal) party leader Anupriya Patel has backed her husband and UP Minister Ashish Patel after he alleged a threat to his life from the state's Special Task Force (STF).
Ashish Patel has accused the UP STF of "conspiring" against him.
Supporting her husband, Anupriya Patel warned that her party would not stay silent “on the matter of dignity of a party worker”.
Addressing the media, Anupriya and Ashish Patel reiterated their party's allegiance to the NDA, affirming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains their leader.
Anupriya, who is the Apna Dal (S) national president, held a meeting with party leaders in Lucknow as well.
When questioned about discussing his concerns with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Ashish Patel cryptically responded, “I have spoken where I had to.”
Ashish further claimed that other ministers were facing similar challenges but remained silent due to "some helplessness," adding, “But I am not helpless.”
Dismissing any possibility of resignation, Ashish stated, “Those who quit are cowards. Let them dismiss me as minister. My leader is the Prime Minister, and I will resign if he asks me to.”
When asked if she planned to escalate the matter to national leaders like the Prime Minister or Home Minister Amit Shah, Anupriya remarked, “Those who run the country are aware of everything. Everybody knows everything. The party will not compromise on the dignity of its workers," Indian Express reported.
“Who is behind all this is known to each and every Apna Dal worker. And, if you have any misconception that you can conspire and hurt the image of an Apna Dal worker, you will be proved wrong. The Apna Dal knows how to get back," Anupriya said.
Highlighting the contentious recruitment of 69,000 teachers, Anupriya stated that Apna Dal would keep talking about it “and those responsible for resolving the issue have to listen”.
“We will keep raising issues related to the backwards and Dalits. Those conspiring against the Apna Dal will get a befitting reply. The Apna Dal is an ally of the NDA under the leadership of the Prime Minister,” Anupriya said.
Ashish reiterated the party’s commitment to the NDA, stating, “This alliance, which began in 2014, will continue under the leadership of the Prime Minister.”
Reasserting his claim of being targeted, Ashish alleged that the STF is “known for shooting in the leg” during encounters and added, “If it has guts, it should shoot me in the chest.”
Ashish said that he expected “the conspiracy against him to intensify now”, but that he was not afraid, nor would he back off.
Pallavi Patel, the estranged sister of Anupriya Patel, is the daughter of Apna Dal founder Sone Lal Patel.
Following their father’s death, Anupriya took over the party’s leadership. However, the sisters became estranged, reportedly due to Ashish Patel’s increasing influence, with their mother siding with Pallavi.
