On October 22, the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict found political resonance in Uttar Pradesh when Sudarshan News, a pro-Hindutva channel known for its shrill and provocative programmes that have come under judicial scrutiny in the past, aired two episodes that drew parallels between Yadavs and Yahudis (Jewish people) and alluded to similarities between the lives of Moses and Lord Krishna.
Days later, while addressing an election rally in the Tijara constituency of Rajasthan where the Congress has fielded a Muslim candidate, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath equated the Israel-Hamas war with the fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.
In the programme titled ‘Kya Yadav Hi Yahudi Hain (Are Yadavs Yahudis?)’, the prime-time voice of Sudarshan News, Suresh Chavhanke, said most Yadavs affirmed the channel’s “research”, except the political ones because they needed Muslim votes. It was obvious that he was pointing to the leadership of the Samajwadi Party (SP), the principal opposition party, which managed to galvanise Yadavs and Muslims in the post-Mandal-era and emerged as a major player in Uttar Pradesh despite the Hindutva wave after the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
