Defending Safia Mahotsava Samajwadi Party national president Mulayam Singh Yadav asked does villagers have no right to entertainment and said that this fest educates the people about the state and country.
“Saifai Mahotsavas are always embroiled in some controversy. I am not afraid of that. People only look at the entertainment part of this fest but ignore business generated during this Mahotasva,” Yadav said during inauguration of the Mahotasava at Saifai , his native village on Friday. last Saifai Mahotsava generated controversy as it was held at the backdrop of Muzaffarnagar riots. Questions were being asked as why Government money was used in organizing this fest when riot victims were languishing in tents in Shamli and Muzaffarnagar.
Yadav said that saifai Mahotsava gives employment to lakhs of people. They set up their stalls. Some sell their products from the mela ground. People come from cities to purchase products prepared by the villagers. “People do not see this side of the mela. They do not see competitions being held in wrestling, folk songs, Kavi sammelan, cycle race, volleyball and essay writing. They only talk about dance of Bollywood starlet. Tell me, villagers do not have the right to see those functions. Is this entertainment limited only to rich and city dwellers,” he asked.
This is the 17th edition of saifai Mahotasava which is organized in the memory of Ranvir Singh, nephew of Mulayam Singh Yadav. “Earlier this function was organized on a very small scale but now its popularity has spread across the country. The function was inaugurated by party’s MP and cine star Jaya
Bachchan. Mulayam Singh asked Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to upgrade the inter college in Saifai named after Amitabh Bachchan.
General Secretary of the SP, Prof.Ram Gopal Yadav along with the Member of Parliament Dharmendra Singh performed yagnas for the successfull completin of the grand event. “The Saifai mahotsav is being organised with the aim of promoting brotherhood, health, entertainment and peace in the state”, said president of the organizing committe and Memeber of Parliament for the Badaun seat Dharmendra Singh.
The event will also witness celebrities from the entertainment industry performing in Saifai. A cycle marathon race along with a series of sports and cultural events will be performed during the Mahatsov.