Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav, in a scathing critique of the BJP-led dispensation, described the demonetisation (note ban) as the “most corrupt decision in the world’s history” and warned that this will prove to be a “vote ban” for the ruling party in the state.

Addressing a press conference here, Akhilesh Yadav said that the country’s economy suffered a death blow due to the note ban, imposed by the Narendra Modi government in 2016, and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) witnessed the worst setback.

He alleged that demonetisation failed to achieve its stated objectives, hurt small businesses and MSMEs, and damaged the country’s banking system.

Notably, the Central government had brought demonetisation of high-value currency notes, effective from November 8, 2016, for reining in rampant tax evasion and curbing the influence of black money.

Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the demonetisation will lead to a ‘vote ban’ for the BJP, asserting that the electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh would not be an ’80-20′ or ’20-80′ contest, rather, it would be ’95-5′ now, implying that the BJP would be completely wiped out.

He also took a ‘Khazanchi’ dig at the BJP, stating that the boy born during demonetisation has now turned ten years old, yet the BJP never once celebrated his birthday.

“The BJP should now ‘adopt’ him—though not in the same way its leaders ‘adopted’ villages. To this day, it is the Samajwadi family that continues to look after Khazanchi and his education,” he remarked.

Calling out the economic failures under the present government, he said that BJP leaders talk about 2047 but decisions like demonetisation have actually set the country’s economy back, much to what it looks like 1947. He also challenged the BJP leadership for an open debate on the issue.

The SP President targeted the Yogi Adityanath government over the state’s law and order situation, asserting that corruption in Uttar Pradesh has reached its peak and cited instances like Hathras and others to question the law and order situation in the state.

He further claimed that the people of Uttar Pradesh have made up their minds in favour of the Samajwadi Party. He reiterated that the BJP will face a crushing defeat in the upcoming elections and that the state’s political landscape is set to change.

Three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured in a terrorist attack in J&K Kulgam district on Wednesday, and joint forces have swung into action and surrounded the area to trace the assailants.

Official sources said two motorcycle-borne terrorists opened fire at a CRPF party in Kulgam district around 2.15 p.m. and fled from the spot immediately after firing at the security personnel.

The incident took place in the Akhran area near Mir Bazar in Kulgam. Panic gripped the area in the wake of the terrorist firing. A general alert has been sounded across the district and adjacent areas to trace the terrorists.

“The injured CRPF jawans were shifted to Anantnag Medical College Hospital for treatment. They belong to the 46th Battalion of the CRPF,” an official said.

“The area has been cordoned off for searches by the army, CRPF and the J&K Police,” an official source said.

Senior army, CRPF and J&K Police have reached the spot to supervise the operation. Further details are awaited.

As parts of Kulgam district such as Mir Bazar, Qazigund, and Shamsipora lie near key transit corridors connecting the Kashmir Valley to Jammu, road-opening parties and checkpoints (nakas) are sometimes targeted in hit-and-run firing or grenade attacks by the terrorists.

Upper reaches and forested belts of Kulgam district like Akhal have periodically served as terrorist hideouts, leading to extended joint operations involving the J&K Police, Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF, and Para Commandos.

On July 31, terrorists killed two labourers in the Kelam area of Kulgam district, and that was the last terrorist attack in the district till today.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah gave Rs 10 lakh ex gratia to next of kin of each killed labourer in the Kelam terror attack, while the administration gave Rs 6 lakh ex gratia relief to the famili–es.

A 32-year-old driver was shot dead inside his rented house by two unidentified assailants in Simri village under the Bihta police station area of Patna district late Tuesday night, police said on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Irfan Imam, alias Kallu Driver. He had been living in a rented house in Simri village with his wife, Neha Parveen, and their two sons for the past two years.

According to information, the incident took place around 11.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

The two assailants allegedly arrived at the house and got the door open. As soon as Irfan opened it, they shot him in the head and fled with his mobile phone.

Hearing the gunshot, neighbours rushed to the house but found Irfan dead.

At the time of the incident, his elder son was reportedly sleeping beside him, while his wife and younger son had gone to visit her maternal relatives nearby.

The motive behind the murder remains unclear. However, reports suggest that an ongoing family dispute had prompted Irfan to live separately from his wife and children in a rented accommodation.

His wife told police that around a month ago, while the couple was returning from Ara on a motorcycle, unidentified persons had fired shots in the air near Maudahi village in Bihta. They escaped unharmed in that incident.

After receiving information about the murder, a police team reached the spot and launched an investigation. A spent bullet casing was recovered from the scene.

Bihta Station House Officer Amit Kumar said villagers informed the police around 11.30 p.m. that a man had been shot dead in Simri village.

“The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the head, which proved fatal. A spent bullet casing has been recovered from the spot. The motive behind the incident is not yet clear. The deceased’s wife and other family members are being questioned,” the SHO said.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the murder and searching for the assailants.