BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra modi threw the gantlet in Meerut the other day and Samajwadi Party’s national president Mulayam Singh Yadav picked it up in Gonda on Monday when he said that what Uttar Pradesh government has done Gujarat can never think of replicating because UP would be the most progressive state in next five year.
"I heard Modi ji’s Meerut speech yesterday. He questioned what Neta ji has done for the people. He questioned me! We have given free medicines to people, free water for irrigation to farmers, free laptops, free edutcation to girl students and waived of farm loans of farmers. Can Modi think of doing so," Mulayam Singh Yadav said while addressing Desh Bachchao - Desh Banao rally of Samajwadi party.
The rally was held a day after Narendra Modi dared Samajwadi Party to compete with him in development. He talked about truant electricity in Uttar Pradesh and lack of roads and other infrastructure needed for development. "We have built an atmosphere of confidence and bhaichara. In your state Modi ji you have thrived by dividing people on religious lines while here in Uttar Pradesh we marched ahead hand-in-hand to the path of progress," he said and added: "In next five five year UP would be the most developed state of the country,"
He countered Modi point by point by highlighting the achievements of his Government. He even praised his Government for extending relief to the riot victims in Muzaffarnagar in record time - which he claimed is unheard . Yadav even blamed BJP for starting communal riots in Muzaffarnagar. "BJP is projecting a man whose hands are stained with blood as its Prime Ministerial candidate. The people will teach both BJP and Congress a lesson in the coming election because both of them have failed them. Both the parties have betrayed minority, farmers, students and youth and thus people have made up their mind to reject BJP and Congress ," Yadav said advocating formation of Third Front post-lok Sabha election. Highlighting the importance of Samajwadi Party in third front he said all other parties - including AIADMK, Janata Da (U) and left can hardly win 40 seats individually because the states where these parties are string does not have more than 40 seats.
"Uttar Pradesh has 80 seats. Ensure we win as many seats that no body can ignore Samajwadi Party in next Government formation. Give me enough strength so that I can bargain for more subsidies and schemes for farmers, students and minorities," he said. Hitting out at AAP he said that the leader who claims himself to be very honest is the most dishonest officer. "Enquiry should be ordered as why this Income Tax officer had resigned." Kya koi ghapla kiya tha kya," he asked.
The crowd that descended SP’s rally was mammoth. This was a prestigious show of strength for the party that area where rally was held comes under the bParliamentary constituency of Beni Prasad Verma - the Union Steel minister and bête noir of Mulayam Singh. He is critical of Samajwadi Party and had claimed that it will win just four seats in 2014.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav unveiled 54 projects worth Rs 161 crore before launching a scathing attack on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said that what Uttar Pradesh has achieved within two years Gujarat Government cannot think of doing. "No one can compare UP’s cane with Gujarat. In western part of the country it takes one year for the cane to mature while in UP the famers get two crops in that period. In UP the present political dispensation believes in communal harmony while the Gujarat government sides with those who spews communal hatred," Yadav said.
He talked about development schemes being launched by his government and elaborated on laptop distribution among class XII pass students; re-introduction of unemployment allowance and distribution of scholarship among girl students as achievement of his Government. "Ours is the Government that works for the welfare of all sections of the society and will continue to do so," he said.
He also launched nine new projects and announced creation of Tarbanj and Pyagpur as tehsils. He also announced construction of bridges over Sharda river and widening of lucknow-Gonda road. Interestingly, Gonda having majority of Muslim population Urban Development Minister Md Azam Khan spoke after Akhilesh Yadav and advised people to stay away from the communal forces that are out to divide country on religious lines.