LUCKNOW: Acknowledging Bharatiya Janata Party as the main rival in ensuing UP Assembly polls, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav continued with his tirade against it over a number of issues ranging from demonetisation to surgical strike at his second public meeting at Dharuara in Lakhimpur Kheri on Wednesday.
He also targeted the Bahujan Samajwadi Party for poor law and order situation reminding it of many political killings which took place during ‘Behenji’s’ 2007-12 regime. “Kya chamatkari party hai yeh. Samajh mein hi nahi aata (What a magical party it is! I fail to understand it),” said Akhilesh while trying to bring home the point that the BJP had used demonetisation as a tool to befool people in the name of checking black money and curbing corruption. He, however, claimed that it was a false notion as even in the deposition of high value notes corruption surfaced at many places.
“I have yet to find the achche din (good days) which they had promised. Instead made people to stand in queues.... it was only the Samajwadi Party government which extended financial help to families of those who lost their lives in queues. Now voters should come out in large numbers to teach them (BJP) a lesson in the ensuing elections,” said the CM taking a swipe at the saffron party for promising achchhe din.
He even condemned the BJP-led Central government for carrying out surgical strikes. “Several jawans lost their life in line of duty and no considerable help was extended to their families,” he said adding that it was his government which gave Rs 25 lakh as financial help to their families.
Sharing the dais with the local Congress leader Prem Prakash Agarwal and accompanied by SP national general secretary Ravi Prakash Verma, party district chief Anurag Patel, Dhaurehra SP candidate Yash Pal Chaudhary, the chief minister launched a broad side against the other major rival –BSP calling it the government of stones which did nothing during its rule for the welfare of people.
Drawing attention to the criticism his party had faced on poor law and order during the last five years, Akhilesh admitted that it was an area which needed improvement and that he was making all out effort in that direction but the chief minister used the platform to remind his rivals, especially, the BSP of how a PWD engineer was allegedly killed for refusing to pay donation for the blue brigade.
Hailing his party’s alliance in the state with the Congress, the chief minister said that earlier he was riding the bicycle alone but now had got the support of Congress’s hand to move faster.
While spelling out the salient features of SP manifesto announced recently for the ensuing elections, Akhilesh highlighted the achievements of his government in the last five years and sought support of the people of Lakhimpur Kheri which will go into the poll in the second phase on February 15.
He also promised total implementation of SP manifesto when voted back to power at other two rallies in Nighasan and Kasta in Lakhimpur Kheri district.