Reacting to the allegations of Union Home minister Rajnath Singh on Uttar Pradesh turning to `Prashna’ (question) Pradesh, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that UP has been in the forefront in giving solution to problems and thus the state should be hailed as one that solves peoples’ problems.
“Has any state built such a long expressway like the one linking Agra and lucknow, in such a short time IJ land acquisition was done peacefully and there has been no protest, not even a murmur. Milk production has increased from 6 lakh litres to 10 lakh litres and the Metro Rail will start operating in lucknow in record time. We have provided drought relief in record time. Can any state match these achievements,” Yadav said by way of questioning soon after chairing a cabinet meeting in lucknow on Monday.
In the state BJP working committee meeting at Jhansi, Singh had termed UP as Prashna (question) Pradesh for its peristent failure to improve governance and law and order.
The Union minister had said that people ask why there was anarchy in UP, why crime against women was so high, why corruption had become institutionalized in UP, why cops were being killed by criminals and why UP has failed to progress. There are so many questions. But this government has no answer which has given the state a new name - ‘Prashna Pradesh’.
The CM defended his government saying that people have seen the previous governments too and they can compare the performance of Samajwadi Party government with its pedecessor.
“We would have done better had we received good support from the Centre. I have written to all the MPs from the state to raise the issues concerning UP in lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The MPs should ask the Centre as to why funds for NHAI were being stalled and why Narendra Modi government has not released funds meant for drought relief,” the CM said showing a book containing details about non-co-operation from the BJP government at the Centre.
When asked about the BJP’s demand to set up a task force to protect cows, Yadav said that the BJP is the only party which enacts drama in the name of Gau Raksha. “It is a point to ponder as to why issue of gau raksha is raised only in BJP-ruled states. We are committed to protecting cows. The state has stringent laws to deal with cow slayer and hence there is no need to have a separate force in UP,” he said.
The CM said that his government has taken a slew of decisions for the welfare of people as the government was committed to extending benefits to the masses. He spoke at length about skill development mission launched by his government. “This will benefit both the urban and the rural people,” Yadav said.