The media focusing on law and order

Upset by the anti-government campaign of the media focusing on law and order, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav came down heavily on the fourth estate on Tuesday for highlighting only the crime incidents of UP, specially the recent gang-rape and murder of two cousins in Budaun district.

“The media has, through its biased coverage, hyped the matter and it seems as if crime is occuring only in UP,” Yadav said while talking to news persons here on Tuesday morning.“Incidents of rape and murder are also taking place in West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and other states but the media are not highlighting them as they do in the case of UP,” the Chief Minister said.

Defending his Government, the Chief Minister said that he took strict action in the Budaun gang-rape and double murder incident and terminated the services of two policemen, recommended CBI probe into the incident and provided security to the victims’ families.He said the media and some political parties were highlighting the incident only to target the SP Government.

When asked about the statement of state Mines Minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati on the laptop distribution scheme, Yadav said “it is his personal opinion”.

“The laptop scheme was targetted by several politicians on its commencement, but it was their personal opinion,” he remarked.Yadav said government problems were not solved on Twitter and What’s App but needed concerete steps.

launching a counter attack on BJP agitating on the issue of power crisis, Akhilesh said the rival party has government at the Centre, but it was neither giving UP power of its full quota nor was it providing coal to operate plants. ``These BJP people are cunning and recently sat on dharna,” he alleged adding “Their people met me and I accepted their proposal. They said about system improvement, I accepted. I told them ask the Centre to increase our quota and provide coal. Taking to the streets and staging a demonstration has no meaning. Akhilesh claimed the government has continuously taken steps in the power sector. “When they have got such a landslide victory and the Prime Minister is from here then give us power for one year on credit. We will return in 2016. The government has done a number of MoUs for power so that new plants can be set up and this crisis can end,” he said.

On a question of asking assistance from the Centre, he said, “We will only ask what which UP should get. Work of Gorakhpur-Varanasi and Kanpur-Hamirpur roads which is the responsibility of National Highway Authority of India has not started yet.” On being asked about clash between SP men during a review meeting held at district headquarters, Akhilesh said he would collect information on it.