Akhilesh Yadav (president of the Samajwadi Party) has sharply criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh for what he describes as a systematic destruction of the education system, leading to a significant decline in school attendance. He claims that the BJP aims to keep young minds uneducated to prevent them from questioning government failures. Yadav pointed out that thousands of primary schools have been closed since the BJP came to power, adversely affecting children from poor families. He emphasized that education has never been a priority for the BJP, which he believes has led to a deterioration of the entire education system from primary to intermediate levels. The former Chief Minister recalled the initiatives taken by the Samajwadi Party, such as the introduction of hot cooked mid-day meals and the distribution of laptops to over 18 lakh students, which he argues contributed to increased school enrollment and provided equal opportunities for students regardless of their socio-economic status. Yadav asserted that the current government's neglect of education has deprived young minds of scientific research and innovation.