Gorakhpur: In Gorakhpur’s Ambedkar Chowk, a poster put up by a Samajwadi Party leader has sparked citywide discussion and viral circulation on social media. The red-and-green SP-themed poster features BJP MP and actor Ravi Kishan holding a samosa, alongside a congratulatory message for his recent ‘Sansad Ratna’ award while also criticising his work focus.
The poster, reportedly placed late Tuesday night by Mulayam Singh Yuvjan Sabha district president Avinash Tiwari, sarcastically highlights the MP’s parliamentary speech about food portion sizes in hotels and dhabas. Beneath the congratulatory message, the poster reads: “If attention had been paid to Gorakhpur’s waterlogging problem, 8-year-old Afreen’s life could have been saved.”
The reference points to a recent incident in Ghosipur Mohalla, where Afreen drowned after falling into an open drain while returning from a madrasa. Heavy water flow carried her around 100 metres before locals pulled her out. Despite resuscitation efforts and hospital transfer, she was declared dead. The poster’s placement next to another one from BJP leaders congratulating Ravi Kishan further fuelled public attention. Throughout Wednesday, passersby stopped to read and discuss the contrasting messages.
The SP’s move is seen by local observers as a pointed attempt to underline what it views as misplaced priorities, contrasting symbolic national-level speeches with urgent municipal concerns affecting residents’ lives.
