To avert controversy following statement of Samajwadi Party leader Kamaal Farooqui over the arrest of Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, SP distanced itself from the remarks saying that it is his personal views.
"Farooqui's statement is not that of the party's. It could be his personal views," senior Samajwadi Party leader and MP Ram Gopal Yadav claimed while talking to the media persons soon after distributing the laptops in Etawah on Saturday. "Bhatkal is a terrorist and he should be treated as one," SP MP added. It may be mentioned that respondingto the arrest of one of the most wanted terrorists along with his aide, SP leader Kamal Farooqui on Friday questioned "Is this arrest based on crime or religionIJ" "If he is a terrorist, then he should not be spared but if he has been arrested just because he is a Muslim, then caution should be exercised as we don't want to send a wrong message to the entire community that we are trying to malign the it's image without a thorough investigation," he had said.
Meanwhile Ram Gopal claimed that charges on Asaram Bapu is of very serious nature and action should be initiated against him as per the provisions laid down under the law. He also said that no Party should made politics of it particularly as the matter was related to modesty of a minor girl. "Action should be taken against Asaram Bapu as per the law till now but it is surprising that why the law enforcing agencies kept waiting to initiate legal proceedings", claimed Ram Gopal Yadav, in Etawah on Saturday afternoon. He made the above claims while distributing laptops to the students in which transport minister Durga
Prasad Yadav was also present . The party's national general secretary said that no one was above the law. "Asram faced were serious charge that too by a minor girl so action should be taken immediately to maintain faith of the public on law enforcing agencies", he added. Asaram is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old school girl who is also an inmate of his Jodhpur Ashram. The case was registered in New Delhi.
Speaking on occasion of the laptop distribution programme, Ram Gopal Yadav showed his concern over the poor shape of Indian economy. He claimed that the Government must check revenue losses as it may pose grave threats later on. Terming unreasonable spending as a major cause for the economy's present state, SP leader said that imports would have to be checked while government should promote export to check fall of Indian rupee. "The country has coal deposits for next 100 years, however because of the wrong policies of the government, coal worth billions of dollars has to be imported which resulted into bad impact on the economy," he cited adding that just three year ago, a dollar was worth Rs 46 to 47 which went up to Rs 68 to 69. Addressing the students, Durga Prasad Yadav said that SP government is fulfilling it’s poll promises and laptop distributed to students will prove of great help for them to carry on further studies. On the occasion, more than 2,000 students were given laptops worth Rs 4.39 crores.