Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav will not celebrate his 78th birthday on Tuesday in view of the train tragedy that left 143 passengers dead and over 200 injured in Kanpur on Sunday.
In a directive to all district SP office-bearers, Mulayam Singh asked them not to celebrate his birthday. Instead, they were aksed to serve the victims of the train mishap and other needy persons.
A SP leader said, “Netaji is very pained at the train accident and the loss of lives and hence decided not to celebrate his birthday this year.” Earlier, it was also announced that Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav factions of the party would celebrate the birthday separately. While the Akhilesh group planned to celebrate the event at the office of Janeshwar Mishra Trust, the rival group had announced to celebrate it at the State party office.
However, on the eve of his 78 birthday, Mulayam Singh was present at a function to inaugurate the country’s longest lucknow- Agra expressway along with his son and CM Akhilesh Yadav in Unnao. In a show of family unity, Shivpal Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav too were in attendance.
Mulayam’s last birthday was celebrated in a gala manner in native Saifai of Etawah where renowned singer and musician A R Rahman and his troupe performed. In 2014, Mulayam celebrated his birthday eve at Rampur, where Azam Khan organised a grand function and even the SP chief and other leaders moved around in a horse-drawn buggee.