The day Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation of Bullet Train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, Samajwadi Party naational chief Akhilesh Yadav said that the train should have been launched between Delhi and Howarh via UP and Bihar ‘as the region was craving for development’.
“Most of the population reside in UP and Bihar and if a Bullet Train passes through this region, it would bring prosperity as the PM himself claimed that project would generate more jobs. This area (UP and Bihar) needs more push than Gujarat and Maharashtra,” Yadav told media persons in lucknow on Thursday.
Yadav clarified That he was not opposed to Bullet Train project but it should pass through the area where it was needed the most. However, the SP chief did not spare the PM for launching the project in native Gujarat.
“These BJP people had attacked me for launching projects in Saifai during our government. Modi too has gone to Gujarat to launch the Bullet Train project. How will the BJP leaders react now IJ” he asked.
Reacting to the photos of Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on the banks of Sabarmati river, Yadav said: “Gomti riverfront is more beautiful than Sabarmati and these two dignitaries should have clicked photos in lucknow.”
When asked about Rahul Gandhi’s comment on dynasty in the US, Akhilesh defended the Congress leader saying that whatever he said was in the national perspective and not about UP.
“Had this question being asked about US politics, he would have given example of father and son becoming Presidents of America and wife of a former President running for elections. Please do not try to make an issue out of it,” he said.
Yadav was however non-committal about the bonhomie between Congress and SP and its longevity. “It hardly matters even if we contest local civic body elections separately. Rahul is my friend and that matters,” he said.
The SP chief however made it clear that the Samajwadi Party was heading for overhaul. “We have opened the doors for all in the party whether he or she is bad or good. I have the blessings of elders but our main target would be to include youths in the party,” he said.
Yadav refused to take any questions on whether Mulayam or Shivpal would attend the party’s state and national conventions to be held in lucknow and Agra respectively or there was any proposal to give any post in the party to them. “I will not reply to any question on these issues,” he said.
About the performance of Yogi government, Akhilesh said that development work in the BJP regime has derailed. “loan waiver scheme has failed to provide any relief to farmers and their actual loan was not waived off despite assurance from Prime Minister. This government did not have money. The CM knocked at the doors of Union Finance minister, Niti Aayog and even the RBI but all rejected to fund the proposal. Now the state government has started with its own resources which is not fulfilling the purpose,” he said.
On this occasion, Akhilesh Yadav released books of prominent writers Omvir Singh Tomar and Deen Md. Deen.