Hitting out at Bahujan Samaj Party the ruling Samajwadi Party leaders alleged that those political parties who are trying to use Dr B R Ambedkar’s name for political gains were in fact insulting this dalit icon who has sacrificed his life for the uplift of poor and downtrodden. “The Samajwadi Party has always respected Dr Ambedkar but some political parties are trying to use his name to sensitise a particular caste for political cause. This trend is unfortunate,” said senior Uttar Pradesh minister and SP General Secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav indirectly referring to Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati who tried to invoke Ambedkar’s name to regain political base in Uttar Pradesh.
Talking to reporters here he said that Dr Ambedkar always said that a political activist should read Dr Ram Manohar lohia and his fight against untouchability. This shows that man’s sincerity who never thought about particular caste and worked for the uplift of poor and downtrodden. Earlier in the day Mayawati had said that all parties are doing politics on Dr Ambedkar birth anniversary. They are shedding crocodile tears, she said. On this occasion Yadav also released a booklet Dr Ambedkar Ek Chintan. When asked about farmers’ plight Yadav, who is PWD and Irrigation minister in the Government said that the BJP government has not sent a penny for distribution of compensation to the farmers in the state. Yadav said strict action would be taken against the officials giving less than Rs 1500 cheque to the farmers. He even announced that government was seeking report from the districts about the loss to the agricultural laborers and the farmers who were working on others’ land under an agreement.
“The UP government has already sanctioned Rs 1087 crore of which Rs 320 crore has been distributed among the farmers spread over in 44 districts,” he said adding that even after the Central team assessed a loss of Rs 1100 crore in the state, Centre has not sent any money so far. Giving details of the funds given to the state by the Centre in the past Yadav said against the drought relief assessment of Rs 4794 crore, the Central government only approved Rs 490.28 crore while during last floods against the assessment of Rs 768.92 crore loss, the Centre only sent Rs 58.30 crore. Similarly during unseasonal rains in 2014, the Centre only sent Rs 32 crore against the loss of Rs 365.28 crore, he said.