Facing barbs over his decision to provide free smart phones to the youth if the SP returns to power, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that the announcement was not a ‘bribe’ but a commitment to take the State forward through the digital pathway.
“The announcement to give smart phones is not a bribe as the BJP and other political parties have alleged. The concept is an effort by the SP to connect the youth with the latest technology available in the country,” he said while addressing a function in lucknow on Thursday.
Yadav said that every government tells people about its future plans. Giving smart phone is our decision but Opposition parties have projected it as a bribe.
“I have come to know that some political parties are planning to move the Election Commission over this matter which is unfortunate,” the CM said. The Opposition hasbeen crying foul after the UP government on Monday announced its policy of providing free smart phones to the people who were above 18 years of age and were high school pass.
The only catch is that the gadgets would be distributed after June 2017, even as the registration will start by next month.
“After the SP came to power we distributed laptops to students. To get the feedback, I will call 50 students who got laptops in first batch and ask them about their experience,” he said.
Talking about his government’s policies, the CM said, “We have never differentiated along communal lines. If we have constructed Haj Houses in lucknow and Ghaziabad, we have also constructed Bhajan halls in Ayodhya and Chitrakoot. We have linked people with facilities without any bias.”
Yadav said that now other states were copying the policies of the UP government. “We have honoured literary persons and all those who belong to UP and have done exceptionally well in carious fields. If people have got Padma awards, we have felicitated them too,” he said.
While addressing a function after laying the foundation stone for an Urdu Gate at Deoband in Saharanpur along with laying the foundation stone for six government hospitals and the second phase of the Agra Inner Ring Road phase-2 at his official Kali Das Marg residence in lucknow, Yadav said that his government has always promoted development.
“We have plans to decongest the city roads. We do not have much time now. The SP will likely bring this issue in its election manifesto,” he said.
The function was also addressed by Minority Welfare minister Azam Khan, Chairman of Hindi Sansthan Uday Pratap Singh and Chairman of Urdu Akademi Nawaj Deobandi.