What happened to one trillion dollar economy goal: Akhilesh

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday raised a question mark on the state government’s resolve to make Uttar Pradesh a one trillion-dollar economy.

“Now, no one in the BJP government is talking about one trillion-dollar economy. There was no mention of it even in the budget,” Akhilesh said while talking to media persons at SP headquarters here on Wednesday. He also accused the government of suppressing majority in the Upper House (Legislative Council) in passing bills during budget session.

Akhilesh said the budget for 2021-22 presented by the Uttar Pradesh government shows it has no vision for development and is only taking forward schemes introduced by the erstwhile SP dispensation by renaming them.

“The ‘vidai budget (farewell budget)’ of the BJP government has upset every section of society as it did not offer anything new,” Yadav claimed.

The SP chief also asked the state government what it has done for farmers. Former chief minister also accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state of damaging constitutional institutions. On MSP (minimum support price) to farmers, Akhilesh said: “Farmers in the state are not getting MSP. Even their sugarcane dues have not been paid.” He also raised a question mark on the state government’s claim of bringing up medical colleges across the state.

“There were no ventilators in hospitals when they were most required (during lockdown and Covid pandemic). Now, the government claims to have made available ventilators. But the CM must check whether they have been unpacked or not,” said Akhilesh. The former CM also raised a question mark on expressway projects of the state government.