‘BJP trusts astrology over astronomy,’ says Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday took a swipe at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anurag Thakur over his recent comments linking mythology with space travel.

Referring to Thakur’s statement that “the first space traveller was Hanuman ji,” Yadav said, “Now, BJP leaders are claiming that Bhagwan Hanuman went to space first,” before adding that the “BJP and its leaders believe less in astronomy and more in astrology.”

The remarks sparked a sharp response from Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who accused Yadav of showing disrespect. “The SP chief disrespected both Hanuman ji and astrology,” Pathak said, demanding an apology from Yadav.

The exchange has reignited a political row over the BJP’s frequent invocation of mythology in public discourse, with Yadav framing it as a diversion from scientific reasoning.