Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 15 (ANI): Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday criticised Sangh Parivar led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing them of 'swadeshi by words but foreign by heart'.He was reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's praise of the RSS in his Independence Day speech earlier in the day.

'When the first convention of the Bharatiya Janata Party was held, they decided that he would follow a secular and socialist path. But the path of the people of the Sangh Parivar is not secular and socialist. Yeh muh se toh swadeshi hai lekin mann se videshi hai (swadeshi by words but foreign by heart), 'Akhilesh Yadav told reporters here.

PM Modi in his address to the nation from Red Fort said, 'Today, I would like to proudly mention that 100 years ago, an organisation was born - Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). 100 years of service to the nation is a proud, golden chapter. With the resolve of 'vyakti nirman se rashtra nirman', with the aim of the welfare of Maa Bharati, swayamsevaks dedicated their lives to the welfare of our motherland...In a way, RSS is the biggest NGO in the world. It has a history of 100 years of dedication.'

The Samajwadi Party leader also said that India would have to accept the challenges of the world as the Country celebrated its Independence Day.

'Today, when we are celebrating Independence Day, we will have to accept the challenges of the world. The stronger our farmers are, the stronger our country is economically, and the better our future will be for the youth, our country will be able to compete with the world markets. We Indians should be ready to make any sacrifice to make our country strong... From time to time, the countries of the world threaten our country, sometimes in the name of the market, sometimes in the name of land. We will have to accept those challenges as well,' he said.

Yadav alleged that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had fooled the entire BJP.

'We want our borders to be safe. Agniveer should be abolished... Today, America is imposing tariffs on us and creating problems for our industrialists... We need to figure out ways to address such a global crisis... CM Yogi Adityanath has fooled the entire BJP. He was neither a member of the BJP nor did he like the ideology of the BJP. He took membership of the BJP just to sit on the chair (of CM),' the SP leader said.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hoisted the national flag at his official residence here on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day.

In his address, the Chief Minister paid tribute to the soldiers who have safeguarded India's borders and bolstered internal security since independence.

Highlighting the bravery and prowess of the Indian Army, CM Yogi Adityanath said, 'This is an opportunity to pay our tribute to our soldiers who have protected the country's borders and enhanced internal security since independence. Recently, we have all witnessed the valour and courage of the Indian Army, along with its capability and strength.' (ANI)