SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. (PTI, file photo)

LUCKNOW: A day after the CBI conducted multiple raids across UP and Delhi as part of a probe into the sand mining scam, triggering the possibility of the agency questioning SP chief Akhilesh Yadav , the former UP chief minister on Sunday accused the BJP of starting a culture of vendetta and warned that it could be “at the receiving end one day”.

“Jo sanskriti inhone (BJP) shuru ki hai, uska saamna inhen khud bhi karna padh sakta ha,” Yadav said, referring to a possible power shift . “If they (BJP) have CBI, we have the gathbandhan (alliance),” he said.

‘It’s people, not CBI, who vote during polls’

Facing the possibility of being summoned by the CBI in the sand mining scam, former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav said confronting sleuths was not new for him. “Earlier, Congress unleashed CBI on me and now BJP is doing the same. I am ready to respond to all queries by the agency, but BJP should also be prepared to respond to questions by people on farmers’ suicide and rising unemployment,” he said. “BJP will use every ammunition at their disposal before the LS elections — be it CBI or money power, but SP and BSP will focus on consolidating the alliance and winning maximum seats,” he said.

CBI had conducted the raids to probe illegal sand mining contracts on Saturday. Sources said among other leaders, Akhilesh, who held the additional portfolio of mining in 2012-13 during his tenure as CM, was also under the scanner. Akhilesh said “it’s the people and not CBI that vote during polls”.

BJP on Sunday demanded that CBI probe Akhilesh for his alleged involvement in the mining scam, claiming that his government was with the accused.

