‘Ramgopal is fanning trouble at BJP’s behest’

SHIVPAL SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF RAMGOPAL THAT THE GRAND ALLIANCE COULD

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LUCKNOW: Sacked UP minister and Samajwadi Party state president Shivpal Singh Yadav on Sunday accused party’s national general secretary Ramgopal Yadav of fanning trouble in the family at the behest of BJP and misguiding CM Akhilesh Yadav.

His announcement of Ramgopal’s removal from the party was met with a loud cheer by party workers and sacked ministers Narad Rai, Shadab Faitma and Om Prakash Singh.

“You all must have read his (Ramgopal’s) letter. He has met senior BJP leaders thrice and is now trying to create a rift in the SP at their behest to save his son Akshay Yadav and daughter-inlaw from CBI probe into their involvement in the Yadav Singh scam in Noida,” he said.

Shivpal said it was because of Ramgopal that the Grand Alliance could not take shape. “This man is trying to weaken Netaji (Mulayam) and the party. But Akhilesh is unable to see through the conspiracy being hatched by him and realise who his real well-wishers are,” he added.

He said his removal from the Akhilesh ministry was yet another attempt by Ramgopal to weaken the party. “He never went to meet Netaji and chote Lohia (Janeshwar Mishra) when they were in jail during Mayawati’s regime. He humiliated senior party leaders like Mohan Singh and Brij Bhushan Tewari and took undue advantage of netaji’s generosity and kindness to promote himself,” said Shivpal.

However, backing Ramgopal, SP leader Naresh Agarwal said, “I don’t think this is correct. Ramgopalji can never hobnob with communal forces.”