UP Deputy CM Maurya Slams Ramgopal Yadav Over Casteist Remark on Wing Commander Vyomika Singh

Lucknow, May 16: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya sharply criticized Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav for his casteist remarks related to Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. Maurya’s response came following Yadav’s comments defending a controversial statement made by a BJP minister against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Maurya accused Yadav of harboring longstanding prejudice against Dalits, stating in Hindi, “Shri Ram Gopal Yadav, who became a professor by continuously torturing Dalits, is not refraining from looking down upon Dalits even at this age.”

The controversy arose after Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah made an objectionable comment about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, which led to a high court order for registering a case against him. Ramgopal Yadav, speaking in Moradabad on Thursday, pointed out that the minister was unaware of Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Air Marshal AK Bharti, implying that had he known, the minister might have targeted them as well.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh has been prominently featured in press briefings related to Operation Sindoor alongside senior officials such as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, gaining recognition for her role in the Indian Air Force.

The exchange has drawn attention to ongoing tensions between political figures over sensitive caste-related issues and the treatment of decorated military officers in public discourse. Maurya’s remarks underline his stance against casteist narratives and his defense of the armed forces personnel.

The political spat highlights the delicate balance of respect and criticism in Indian politics, especially when it involves the armed forces and social identity.