A day after daring the Prime Minister to join him at a debate, Samjawadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav threw another gauntlet to Narendra Modi asking
him for a debate on demonetisation.
Yadav said, “I challenge the PM to have a debate with me on demonetisation so that the people know the pros and cons of the policy and how this move of the Centre devastated the economy and
ruined the lives of the millions of the poor people.”
The CM said, “Instead of going for work to earn their wages, the poor people were forced to stand in queues before banks to withdraw or change old currency notes.”
Yadav took a jibe at Modi over his bullet train promise, asking him to hurry up as he will “not get another chance” at the Centre.
Modi, the SP leader said, served as Chief Minister of Gujarat for three terms but could not get a Metro there. “We have started Metro train (but) where is your bullet trainIJ...It has been three years now since your Government came to power, where has that train goneIJ...Please hurry up as you will not get another chance,” Akhilesh told an election rally here.
“You have been Chief Minister of Gujarat three times but could not get a Metro there...We have started its work at three places,” he said, hitting back at Modi for his charge that UP lacked development.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s remark on mass copying in the state, Akhilesh asked, “Are examinations being held anywhere at this point of time...In BJP-ruled states (too) those who had leaked papers were caught.”
Taking a dig at BJP MP from Gorakhpur Yogi Adityanath for his remark over electricity supply in the state, Akhilesh said, “There is a ‘baba’ (the Yogi, who dons saffron robes) in the neighbourhood who has raised questions on power supply...I will only say that ‘babaji’ you can touch an electric wire and see whether there is power or not,” he said amid applause from the crowd.
Alleging that there was an understanding between the BSP and the BJP, Akhilesh said both have decided to somehow stop the SP from coming to power.
Taking a jibe at Mayawati, he said people go off to sleep as soon she starts her election speech. “She is also speaking about development...We have seen her development,” Akhilesh said, adding that she is all set to celebrate ‘Raksha Bandha’ with the BJP.
“Buaji (Mayawati) is asking me not to call her bua (aunt) ...Recall when a BJP leader had said something wrong about her she had said if CM considers her as his bua, he should arrest him and I got him arrested from Bihar...Now she is saying don’t call me bua...I want to caution you all...She is prepared to celebrate Raksha Bandhan with the BJP,” he said referring to the Dayashankar Singh case.
Singh, a former UP vice president of BJP, was on the run after an FIR was filed against him for making alleged derogatory remarks against Mayawati and was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force.
