››WHO WILL LEAD SP‑BSP ALLIANCE, ASKS YOGI,

LUCKNOW Chief minister Yogi Adityanth on Saturday asked who would be the leader of Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party’s alliance.

The chief minister was speaking at an event organised by a news channel.

Commenting on the most likely alliance between the BSP and the Samajwadi Party in 2019 general election, the CM said: “Akhilesh and Mayawati must tell who will be leader of the alliance. Congress must also join the (SP and BSP) alliance so that the BJP may confront them together.”

To note, in the recently concluded Gorakhpur and Phoolpur Lok Sabha bypolls, the BSP had extended support to the Samajwadi Party. The SP won in both the parliamentary constituencies.

Attacking the SP and the BSP, the CM said: “The SP and the BSP promoted lawlessness and ‘goonda raj’. We are striving hard to pull the state out of family and caste politics.” Replying to a query about Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Yogi said: “Rahul Gandhi is a good omen for the BJP. Wherever he goes, the BJP gains. Had he campaigned in the bypolls, the BJP would have won on both seats.”

Commenting on the party’s policy related with Muslims, the CM said: “We are neither against Muslims nor against the majority community. Security will be provided to everyone who celebrates his festival in a lawful manner.”

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