Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav disputed the assertion of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that the previous SP regime had banned celebrations of Krishna Janmaasthmi in police stations.
“let the Chief Minister scan the history of last 100 years and tell the people as to when did the SP government banned celebrations of Janmasthmi in police stations,’’ dared Akhilesh addressing a press conference in lucknow on Friday.
Referring to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as a ‘Digital CM’ who reacts only on Twitter, Akhilesh said, ``Yogi ji is unaware of the meaning of tweets so I call him the ‘Digital CM’ and I don’t follow him on the social media.’’
Questioning objections raised by the CM over offering namaz on the streets by Muslims, the former UP Chief Minister said, “Many people do a lot of celebrations on roads. The CM will not talk about smart cities, but will talk about namaz and Janmashtami only to divide communities for his narrow political ends.’’
“Why single out the minority for offering namaz on streets, lots of things like marriages, birthdays and many other functions including meetings by political parties take place on the streeets,’’ said Akhilesh.
Seeking to project his secular credentials, the SP chief said, “The future Samajwadi Party government will provide Rs 5 lakh to each police station of the state for celebrating festivals of all religions including Eid, Bakrid, Christmas and Krishna Janmasthmi.’’
Yadav criticised the UP government for the alleged high handiness and intimidation of SP leaders by the police in Auraiya district to install a BJP candidate as Chairman of District Panchyat.
“During assembly poll campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had charged that Samajwadi Party leaders of running police stations in UP. He owes an answer to the people of the state as to who was running the police stations now,” said Akhilesh Yadav.
Accusing the Auraiya policechief of taking a ‘supari’ (contract) from the BJP to install a party leader as Chairman of District Panchyat, Akhilesh said, “Its beyond my imagination that an SP of a district could assault a former MP and raid the residences of members of district panchyat. When they were not found, their family members were abducted and handed over to BJP leaders.’’
Akhilesh alleged that the SP of Auraiya was adamant on ensuring the victory of the BJP candidate as Chairman of District Panchyat. On Thursday, Akhilesh and some SP leaders were detained on lucknow- Agra Expressway in Unnao while he was way to Auraiya. Some others were also arrested Kanpur.
On the death of children at BRD Medical College at Gorakhpur, Akhilesh Yadav demanded a probe by a sitting judge of Supreme Court.
“Children died for the lack of oxygen in Gorakhpur and Yogi has been silent on the issue. He should at least extend financial assistance to the parents whose children died in the medical college,’’ said Akhilesh.