In first show after poll defeat, Akhilesh targets plotters, BJP
CHARGE The SP chief says those who connived with the Bharatiya Janata Party for his defeat in assembly election stood unmasked
FAIZABAD/LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav blew the bugle against the BJPled governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh by launching the statewide ‘Desh Bachao, Desh Banao’ campaign from Faizabad on Wednesday.
Recalling the historic significance of August Kranti, Yadav said it was on this day on August 9, 1942 that the Quit India Movement was launched to end the British rule in India.
“Socialists played a significant role in the Freedom Movement. And it is now upon us to fulfill the dreams and aspirations that our forefathers had envisioned for the country,” he said. Four months after the party suffered a crushing defeat in the UP assembly polls, this was the first public show by the SP and the former CM who exhorted the party workers to highlight the failures of the BJP government both at the Centre and in the state.
Yadav unveiled a statue of freedom fighter Rajbali Yadav at a college named after him on the occasion of his death anniversary at Madna in Faizabad district. Commenting on the latest round of resignations by party MLCs, he said, “I had said that a conspiracy was hatched against me by some of my party leaders who were hand-in glove with the BJP. Those who took tacit support of the BJP earlier have today openly joined the BJP.”
The SP national president said it was strange that leaders of a party, which had secured a landslide win, were afraid to face the electorate and had instead chosen to get elected through the ‘backdoor’ by provoking defections and resignations to secure a seat in the legislative council.
“Be it income-tax raids, horse trading or any other arm-twisting method, the BJP government is willing to go to any extent to ensure its victory,” he said, referring to the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat.
He did not rule out the possibility of a grand alliance in UP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2019.
He said his party was willing to talk to BSP chief Mayawati on the issue. Taking a potshot at Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Yadav said, “I used to listen to his speeches in which he talked about the DNA of a person. I never realised then that even he had NDA in his DNA.”
“Winning and losing elections is part of a democratic cycle. But why is there so much focus on my family alone,” he wondered and added that he would attend the RJD rally in Bihar to strengthen the non-NDA alliance.
SP CONVOY ZIPS PAST TOLL PLAZAS WITHOUT PAYING TOLL
On the way back to Lucknow after the public meeting in Faizabad, the convoy of the former UP CM zipped past the toll plaza near Barabanki without paying toll tax. The toll plaza manager claimed at least 175 vehicles that were part of the SP chief’s convoy did not pay the toll tax.