LUCKNOW: With the first phase of Uttar Pradesh elections a few days away, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi fired a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their fourth joint rally in Meerut on Tuesday.
Keeping the Prime Minister in his direct line of attack, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav cautioned the Meerut electorate against the former’s alleged white lies. "You fell prey to lies in 2014. Beware this time. Modi befooled everyone by promising lakhs recovered from black money,” said the CM. “Is the recovered black money in your bank accounts?” he asked.
Taking a swipe at Modi’s “SCAM” jibe, Akhilesh wondered how BSP chief Mayawati’s name figured in the acronym as she had always been close to the saffron party. “She has always enjoyed a special bond with the BJP and has allied with the party thrice in the state,” noted Akhilesh.
Mocking at the saffron outfit, the UP chief minister warned people to be wary of those having names beginning with the letters ‘A’ (Amit Shah) and ‘M’ (Modi), in the ensuing elections.
As the rally was organised in Nauchandi, the place famous for its annual animal fair, the CM tried to woo the voters by promising special facilities for the treatment of livestock.
Appreciating the liveliness of the crowd, Akhilesh said it was an indication of the victory of SP-Congress alliance. “Majboot haanth ke saath cycle aur teji se chalegi (With the support of a strong ‘hand,’ the cycle will move faster),” he claimed.
Similarly, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi also launched a broadside on the PM saying he has felt a storm in the state, the day SP-congress alliance was stitched.
While accusing Modi of breaching people’s faith by failing to waive farmers’ loan, Rahul Gandhi promised start-up loans to lakhs of youth in the state.
Condemning the Centre over demonetisation and the subsequent sufferings it allegedly inflicted on people, he appealed to the young voters to help win 300 seats for the SP-Congress alliance in the state.
He also exhorted them to root out the divisive forces who believed in the politics of hatred.
On the other hand, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati, in her rally in Ghaziabad, warned the people against false survey polls perpetuated by rivals while claiming confidence of forming the majority government in the state after March 11.
She also pointed out that the BJP has an anti-reservation stance. Mayawati also slammed the Akhilesh-led SP government for the poor law and order situation and accused them for dragging the state on the development front.