‘LS polls crucial for saving Constitution, democracy’
SP chief says INDIA bloc government will give priority to rights of underprivileged if voted to power; claims this election will be deciding factor ‘not just for us, but for generations to come’
amajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said that the upcoming Lok Sabha election was “for saving” India’s democracy and Constitution.
Speaking at a rally in Firozabad, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister added that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returned to power at the Centre, they may bring a law that will “take away” the rights of farmers and marginalised communities.
“On June 4 [the day results will be declared], the government of socialists will be formed. From the very rst day of the new government, permanent jobs and recruitment will be done. We will ensure that everybody is given rights as per reservation,” he said, adding that the upcoming election was not only “their election, but an
Selection for generations to come”.
Mr. Yadav, while campaigning for Firozabad Lok Sabha seat’s SP candidate, Akshay Yadav, claimed that the latter would win the poll with record votes.
“The enthusiasm that I can see here will make Akshay Yadav win record votes. Even in the rst and second phases [of the election], BJP will be left far behind,” the SP chief said. Firozabad, which goes to polls in the third phase on May 7, will see a three-cornered contest with Mr. Yadav against BJP’s Vishwadeep Singh and Chowdhary Basheer of the Bahujan Samaj Party.
‘Will waive farm loans’ Mr. Yadav added that unseating the BJP from power would help the country improve employment opportunities.
“Remove the BJP, and the Constitution will be saved. Jobs will also be saved and employment opportunities will increase. In this government, loans taken by big industrialists worth ¡16 lakh crore were waived o¢, but they did not make a similar rule for farmers’ loans. We are assuring our farmer brothers that if the SP and the INDIA [Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance] government is formed in Delhi, farmers’ loans will be waived o¢,” he said.
Mr. Yadav also spoke about the works done by the SP government between 2012 and 2017 while accusing the BJP of stalling development initiatives.
“When the SP focused on developing infrastructure, the Prime Minister talks about graveyards and crematorium during his rallies. This is the di¢erence in vision,” he said.