MSY defends Akhilesh govt on handling of Muz’nagar riots
On his maiden visit to Muzaffarnagar post the riot last year, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav sought to soothe ruffled feathers on Sunday. He condemned the violence between the Jats and Muslims that shook the region six months ago and reminded the people that the state government extended maximum assistance to riot victims to assuage their grief.
Addressing a huge gathering, Netaji expressed regrets for lives lost in the clashes and said, “We controlled the violence quickly and tried to provide maximum possible assistance to riot victims.” No government in the country had given so much relief to riot victims, he claimed.
Highlighting that this Lok Sabha election was the most important, he said neither the Congress nor the BJP but the third front would form the gov- ernment and the party with the maximum seats in the front would be declared its leader. Underlining the significance of UP in India’s politics, he explained, “UP has 80 Lok Sabha seats and we are winning on maximum seats. So you may support the SP if you want me to see me as prime minister”.
Muslims being the decisive factor in the electoral battle in Muzaffarnagar constituency, the SP chief reached out to them, stressing on improving the condition of minorities and seeking their support for party candidate Virendra Singh.
Mentioning the salient features of the SP manifesto, Mulayam assured traders of more facilities. He also said that his party was committed to providing medical assistance to people suffering from serious illnesses. “No poor person will die because of treatment facilities being inaccessible,” he asserted.
The crowed cheered when Yadav declared that the SP had decided to provide free education and medical assistance. Leaving behind the cheering crowd, Mulayam then flew to neighbouring Kairana constituency to address a rally in Shamli to tilt voters in favour of party candidate Nahid Hasan.
The SP has fielded six time MLA Virendra Singh against sitting MP Kadir Rana of the BSP and BJP’s Dr Sanjeev Kumar Baliyan on Muzaffarnagar seat. The Congress has given ticket to Nagar Palika chairman and Vaishya leader Pankaj Agarwal.