Congress-SP ties will go a long way: Babbar
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Raj Babbar on Thursday said the Congress’s friendship with the Samajwadi Party will go a long way and the party’s central leadership will take a decision about an alliance between the two parties for 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
“Akhilesh Yadav has not said anything with clarity about the alliance. We have friendship and it will continue for long. This is not an issue of give and take. The party’s central leadership will take a decision about an alliance between the two parties for 2019 Lok Sabha elections,” said Babbar when asked to comment on SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s statement that he was not thinking about an alliance with any party at this stage.
Babbar was speaking to media persons at UPCC headquarters after attending a meeting of party’s district and city unit leaders. About the Congress’s absence at the meeting that SP had convened to discuss EVM issue, Babbar said he could not attend the meeting due to other engagements in Delhi. “I had to attend a Congress meeting in Delhi. The Congress has made its stand clear on EVM issue,” said Babbar. Babbar said the Congress was yet to decide its candidates for by-election to Gorakhpur and Phoolpur Lok Sabha seats. A decision on candidates may be taken in about a week, he said. About removal of unauthorized loudspeakers, Babbar said there was a need for clarity on the issue. “What will happen to use of loudspeakers in Magh mela etc,” he said.
On Gorakhpur Mahotsav, Babbar said the state government should show some sensitivity instead of holding such events with much fanfare. He said a number of children had died at BRD medical college in Gorakhpur and hooch tragedy had claimed nine lives. People show sensitivity if any tragedy took place in neighborhood, he said.