Aiming to woo voters, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav hinted that the ruling Samajwadi Party could give free smart phones to people if voted back to power in the 2017 Assembly polls.
After inaugurating the 4G netowork of a private service provider in lucknow on Wednesday, the CM said, “The SP is considering to include the distribution of free smart phones in our election manifesto. During the 2012 polls, we had promised laptops and we distributed them among students. Similarly, the SP could distribute free smart phones this time.”
The CM said that technology is affecting our daily lives in a big way. After the entry of 4G network, smart phones will become essential for every individual. A smart phone would mean opening a window to the digital world. “The SP wants to give that window to the people,” he averred.
Yadav said that people used to say that the SP was opposed to technology but distribution of laptops has proved everyone wrong. “Some used to call laptop a `jhunjhuna’. But now many neighbouring states taking a cue from us are distributing laptops among students,” he said.
Claiming that UP will turn into a mobile manufacturing hub very soon, the CM said that the state would emerge as a leader in production of mobile phones particularly smart phones. “Several new mobile manufacturing companies have already set up units in Noida and its nearby areas. Several others are keen to go for investment in the state,” he said.
“UP is the biggest consumer market even for mobile companies. Investment in the state has gone up many fold in the present regime,” Yadav claimed.
However, to a suggestion by Chief Secretary Deepak Singhal that after the launch of 4G, the towers should be installed near all police stations, tehsils and blocks, Yadav said that though technology is useful but it should be used with caution.
“When I wanted to install CCTV cameras in a playground of a school, the students protested as it would stop them from bunking classes. Use of technology like CCTV in public parks and river banks could create problems and can violate privacy of individual,” he said.
Chief Secretary Deepak Singhal also spoke on this occasion.