Stung by criticism of former leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya, the Samajwadi Party hit back saying he was a ‘mentally deranged person’. Terming the Samajwadi Party as a ‘family enterprise’, Maurya had called it a ‘party of goondas and criminals’.
Earlier on Wednesday, Maurya quit the Bahujan Samaj Party and by implication also lost the office of the leader of Opposition in Assembly. He had met senior SP leaders — Shivpal Yadav and Azam Khan soon after his resignation from the BSP, triggering speculations about his induction into the SP and also the UP Cabinet during the proposed expansion in lucknow on June 27.
However reacting to Maurya’s assessment of the SP, Shivpal Yadav said on Friday, “Swami Prasad Maurya has lost his mental balance after losing the office of the leader of Opposition. In fact, he is a mentally deranged person and is in dire need of medical treatment.’’
“Maurya has got much more than what he actually deserved in politics. So he has lost his balance and making irresponsible statements about the Samajwadi Party,’’ said Yadav in Kanpur on Friday.
Clarifying his stand on the SP, Swami Prasad Maurya had said on Thursday, “There is absolutely no change in my opinion about the ruling SP. The party remains the last refuge of all anti-social elements, criminals and goondas.
No development has taken place in the state during the last four years of Akhilesh Yadav regime in UP.’’
Not to be left behind, Minority Affairs minister Azam Khan also attacked Maurya saying, “Maurya is not a human being. He is acid. Wherever he will go, he will only spread hatred. It would be better for him to return to his old party—BSP, which he deserted two days back. Mayawati should persuade Maurya and take him back in the party.’’
Khan, who was in Fatehpur to attend a Roza Iftar party, however refused to comment on the merger of Mokhtar Ansari’s Quami Ekta Dal with the Samajwadi Party.