News Analysis India

Tag: Akhilesh Yadav

  • Mulayam’s body arrives at native Saifai village, people throng to pay tributes

    By PTI

    ETAWAH: hants of “Netaji amar rahein” reverberated across Saifai as people from across length and breadth of Uttar Pradesh thronged socialist leader Mulayam Singh Yadav’s native village for his last darshan Monday.

    Yadav passed away Monday morning at a private hospital in Gurugram and his mortal remains reached here in the evening.

    The body of the Samajwadi Party patriarch has been kept at his kothi and the cremation will take place on Tuesday afternoon.

    While grief-struck commoners and party supporters stood in queues, it wasn’t easier for “VIPs” as well with multiple current and former UP legislative assembly members trying hard to gain entry into the kothi.

    “Sir, there are instructions to us that no VIP treatment is meted out to anyone,” a private security official told an MLC and a former MLC, denying them a backdoor entry.

    ALSO READ| Mulayam Singh Yadav’s journey: Timeline

    Besides a large number of people who waited for the mortal remains at the venue, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, former MP Dharmendra Yadav and other family members were present when the body was taken out from an ambulance.

    Mulayam’s brother Shivpal Yadav was seen comforting Akhilesh Yadav, placing his hand on his shoulder as the latter broke down.

    Soon after the body was laid for the last “darshans”, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh and BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary arrived and paid their tributes.

    ALSO READ: Mulayam, an astute politician who towered over political landscape of Hindi heartland

    They also extended their condolences to Akhilesh Yadav.

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Chhatisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and Bihar CM Nitesh Kumar are likely to arrive here.

    People from distant places in UP reached Saifai to pay their last respects.

    “He was like God to us,” Jaikesh Yadav, who arrived here with scores of people from Etah district, some 150 km away, told PTI as he struggled to gain entry for the darshan.

    Indrajit Singh Yadav said he left home in Jaunpur while Rahul Singh Yadav came from Prayagraj after the news of Yadav’s demise broke out.

    A private security official manning the queues estimated that well around 10,000 people had paid last respects till 9.30 pm. Among those struggling to gain entry was a 72-year-old man, hailing from a nearby village.

    ALSO READ: A 10-time MLA, 7-time MP, Mulayam Singh Yadav started his career as a teacher

    “I had a surgery on my leg several years ago and it’s permanently disabled,” the elderly man told PTI and recalled Yadav as a “great leader”.

    Traders in the district have decided to keep the markets closed on October 11 as a mark of respect to their leader.

    Yadav, a former defence minister who had also served as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh three times, passed away at 82 on Monday.

    ETAWAH: hants of “Netaji amar rahein” reverberated across Saifai as people from across length and breadth of Uttar Pradesh thronged socialist leader Mulayam Singh Yadav’s native village for his last darshan Monday.

    Yadav passed away Monday morning at a private hospital in Gurugram and his mortal remains reached here in the evening.

    The body of the Samajwadi Party patriarch has been kept at his kothi and the cremation will take place on Tuesday afternoon.

    While grief-struck commoners and party supporters stood in queues, it wasn’t easier for “VIPs” as well with multiple current and former UP legislative assembly members trying hard to gain entry into the kothi.

    “Sir, there are instructions to us that no VIP treatment is meted out to anyone,” a private security official told an MLC and a former MLC, denying them a backdoor entry.

    ALSO READ| Mulayam Singh Yadav’s journey: Timeline

    Besides a large number of people who waited for the mortal remains at the venue, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, former MP Dharmendra Yadav and other family members were present when the body was taken out from an ambulance.

    Mulayam’s brother Shivpal Yadav was seen comforting Akhilesh Yadav, placing his hand on his shoulder as the latter broke down.

    Soon after the body was laid for the last “darshans”, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh and BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary arrived and paid their tributes.

    ALSO READ: Mulayam, an astute politician who towered over political landscape of Hindi heartland

    They also extended their condolences to Akhilesh Yadav.

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Chhatisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and Bihar CM Nitesh Kumar are likely to arrive here.

    People from distant places in UP reached Saifai to pay their last respects.

    “He was like God to us,” Jaikesh Yadav, who arrived here with scores of people from Etah district, some 150 km away, told PTI as he struggled to gain entry for the darshan.

    Indrajit Singh Yadav said he left home in Jaunpur while Rahul Singh Yadav came from Prayagraj after the news of Yadav’s demise broke out.

    A private security official manning the queues estimated that well around 10,000 people had paid last respects till 9.30 pm. Among those struggling to gain entry was a 72-year-old man, hailing from a nearby village.

    ALSO READ: A 10-time MLA, 7-time MP, Mulayam Singh Yadav started his career as a teacher

    “I had a surgery on my leg several years ago and it’s permanently disabled,” the elderly man told PTI and recalled Yadav as a “great leader”.

    Traders in the district have decided to keep the markets closed on October 11 as a mark of respect to their leader.

    Yadav, a former defence minister who had also served as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh three times, passed away at 82 on Monday.

  • A 10-time MLA, 7-time MP, MSY started his career as a teacher

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Mulayam Singh Yadav, one of the most prominent leaders of Uttar Pradesh, served as the chief minister of the state thrice and also as India’s defence minister. He was elected 10 times as a member of the assembly and seven times as a Lok Sabha member.

    He passed away at the age of 82 due to multi-organ failure at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Monday morning. Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son and SP chief Akhilesh confirmed his father’s demise in a tweet through the official Twitter handle of the party.

    “My respected father and everyone’s leader is no more – Akhilesh Yadav,” the tweet on Samajwadi Party’s Twitter handle read.

    Mulayam Singh Yadav had been admitted at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram since August 22 and his condition deteriorated a week ago when the SP patriarch was shifted to ICU and then to CCU. Currently, his treatment was being supervised by the team of senior doctors of Medanta hospital. He had been on life-saving drugs.

    As per the hospital sources, Mulayam had been suffering from acute kidney malfunction leading to an imbalance in the creatinine levels in his body. In such a condition, after keeping him on dialysis for some time, the doctors had shifted the veteran leader on Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) support and life-saving drugs.

    Born on November 22, 1939, in the village Saifai of Eatwah district in central UP, Mulayam Singh Yadav took education initial education in Etawah followed by Fatehabad and Agra. A known wrestler, Mulayam after completing his graduation and Bachelor of Teaching (BT), completed his higher education at Agra University, where he did his post-graduation in political science.

    An astute politician, Mulayam had started his career as a teacher at Jain Inter College in Karhal, in the Mainpuri district. In fact, the SP patriarch had done his schooling at the same school in 1955 when he took admission in Class 9th.  He did his Class 12th from the same school and joined it later as a teacher in 1963. He used to teach Hindi and social science.

    Mulayam was drawn to politics in 1960 when he started taking active part in the movement led by socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia after getting influenced by the socialist leader. However, he started his political journey formally in 1967 by contesting and winning the Assembly election as MLA from Jaswantnagar seat.

    A 10-time MLA and seven-time MP representing various constituencies across UP, Mulayam founded the Samajwadi Party in 1992 and he and rose to become the UP CM for the first time in 1989. He helmed UP thrice as CM from 1989-1991, 1993-1995 and 2003 to 2007. He was the country’s defence minister from 1996-1998 during the United Front government at the Centre.

    At present, Mulayam Sigh Yadav had been representing Mainpuri in Lok Sabha as MP. “Mulayam Singh Yadav Ji distinguished himself in UP and national politics. He was a key soldier for democracy during the Emergency. As Defence Minister, he worked for a stronger India. His Parliamentary interventions were insightful and emphasised furthering national interest,” Prime Minister Narendra Modiwrote in his tweet.

    ALSO READ | Mulayam a key soldier for democracy during Emergency: PM

    “The death of Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was also India’s former defence minister, is a huge loss to Indian politics. May god grant peace to his soul, and give strength to his family members,” the Congress wrote on its official Twitter handle.

    Expressing grief over the demise of the veteran leader, UP CM Yogi Aditynath paid tributes saying an era of socialist movements has ended in the country with the passing away of the SP patriarch.

    उत्तर प्रदेश के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री श्री मुलायम सिंह यादव जी का निधन अत्यंत दुखदायी है।उनके निधन से समाजवाद के एक प्रमुख स्तंभ एवं एक संघर्षशील युग का अंत हुआ है।ईश्वर से दिवंगत आत्मा की शांति की कामना व शोकाकुल परिवार एवं समर्थकों के प्रति संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूँ।
    — Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) October 10, 2022
    “The demise of former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav ji is extremely sad.His death marked the end of a major pillar of socialism and a struggling era. I pray to God for the peace of the departed soul and express my condolences to the bereaved family and supporters,” Yogi Aditynath’s post read.

    Amid the pouring condolences, the Uttar Pradesh Government declared a three—day state mourning and last rites with full state honours of the departed leader.

    Mulayam Singh Yadav’s mortal remains will be brought to Lucknow and will be kept at the premises of the state Assembly and the SP office. Last rites will be performed in his native Saifai village of Etawah, sources said.

    LUCKNOW: Mulayam Singh Yadav, one of the most prominent leaders of Uttar Pradesh, served as the chief minister of the state thrice and also as India’s defence minister. He was elected 10 times as a member of the assembly and seven times as a Lok Sabha member.

    He passed away at the age of 82 due to multi-organ failure at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Monday morning. Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son and SP chief Akhilesh confirmed his father’s demise in a tweet through the official Twitter handle of the party.

    “My respected father and everyone’s leader is no more – Akhilesh Yadav,” the tweet on Samajwadi Party’s Twitter handle read.

    Mulayam Singh Yadav had been admitted at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram since August 22 and his condition deteriorated a week ago when the SP patriarch was shifted to ICU and then to CCU. Currently, his treatment was being supervised by the team of senior doctors of Medanta hospital. He had been on life-saving drugs.

    As per the hospital sources, Mulayam had been suffering from acute kidney malfunction leading to an imbalance in the creatinine levels in his body. In such a condition, after keeping him on dialysis for some time, the doctors had shifted the veteran leader on Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) support and life-saving drugs.

    Born on November 22, 1939, in the village Saifai of Eatwah district in central UP, Mulayam Singh Yadav took education initial education in Etawah followed by Fatehabad and Agra. A known wrestler, Mulayam after completing his graduation and Bachelor of Teaching (BT), completed his higher education at Agra University, where he did his post-graduation in political science.

    An astute politician, Mulayam had started his career as a teacher at Jain Inter College in Karhal, in the Mainpuri district. In fact, the SP patriarch had done his schooling at the same school in 1955 when he took admission in Class 9th.  He did his Class 12th from the same school and joined it later as a teacher in 1963. He used to teach Hindi and social science.

    Mulayam was drawn to politics in 1960 when he started taking active part in the movement led by socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia after getting influenced by the socialist leader. However, he started his political journey formally in 1967 by contesting and winning the Assembly election as MLA from Jaswantnagar seat.

    A 10-time MLA and seven-time MP representing various constituencies across UP, Mulayam founded the Samajwadi Party in 1992 and he and rose to become the UP CM for the first time in 1989. He helmed UP thrice as CM from 1989-1991, 1993-1995 and 2003 to 2007. He was the country’s defence minister from 1996-1998 during the United Front government at the Centre.

    At present, Mulayam Sigh Yadav had been representing Mainpuri in Lok Sabha as MP. “Mulayam Singh Yadav Ji distinguished himself in UP and national politics. He was a key soldier for democracy during the Emergency. As Defence Minister, he worked for a stronger India. His Parliamentary interventions were insightful and emphasised furthering national interest,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi
    wrote in his tweet.

    ALSO READ | Mulayam a key soldier for democracy during Emergency: PM

    “The death of Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was also India’s former defence minister, is a huge loss to Indian politics. May god grant peace to his soul, and give strength to his family members,” the Congress wrote on its official Twitter handle.

    Expressing grief over the demise of the veteran leader, UP CM Yogi Aditynath paid tributes saying an era of socialist movements has ended in the country with the passing away of the SP patriarch.

    उत्तर प्रदेश के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री श्री मुलायम सिंह यादव जी का निधन अत्यंत दुखदायी है।
    उनके निधन से समाजवाद के एक प्रमुख स्तंभ एवं एक संघर्षशील युग का अंत हुआ है।
    ईश्वर से दिवंगत आत्मा की शांति की कामना व शोकाकुल परिवार एवं समर्थकों के प्रति संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूँ।
    — Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) October 10, 2022
    “The demise of former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav ji is extremely sad.
    His death marked the end of a major pillar of socialism and a struggling era. I pray to God for the peace of the departed soul and express my condolences to the bereaved family and supporters,” Yogi Aditynath’s post read.

    Amid the pouring condolences, the Uttar Pradesh Government declared a three—day state mourning and last rites with full state honours of the departed leader.

    Mulayam Singh Yadav’s mortal remains will be brought to Lucknow and will be kept at the premises of the state Assembly and the SP office. Last rites will be performed in his native Saifai village of Etawah, sources said.

  • Mulayam Singh Yadav, Samajwadi Party founder, dies at 82

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Samajwad Party founder who helmed Uttar Pradesh as Chief Minister thrice and former Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav passed away after a prolonged illness in Medanta hospital in Gurugram on Monday morning. Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son and SP chief Akhilesh confirmed his father’s demise in a tweet through the official Twitter handle of the party.

    मेरे आदरणीय पिता जी और सबके नेता जी नहीं रहे – श्री अखिलेश यादव
    — Samajwadi Party (@samajwadiparty) October 10, 2022
    “My respected father and everyone’s leader is no more – Akhilesh Yadav,” the tweet on Samajwadi Party’s Twitter handle read. Mulayam Singh Yadav, 82, had been admitted at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram since August 22 and his condition deteriorated a week ago when the SP patriarch was shifted to ICU and then to CCU. His treatment was being supervised by a team of senior doctors from Medanta hospital. He had been on life-saving drugs.

    As per the hospital sources, Mulayam had been suffering from acute kidney malfunction leading to an imbalance in the creatinine levels in his body. In such a condition, after keeping him on dialysis for some time, the doctors shifted the veteran leader to Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) support and life-saving drugs.

    After the SP informed of Mulayam Singh’s poor health condition on Sunday, October 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath had spoken to Akhilesh to enquire about his father’s health. PM Modi had also assured him of all possible help and assistance.

    LUCKNOW: Samajwad Party founder who helmed Uttar Pradesh as Chief Minister thrice and former Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav passed away after a prolonged illness in Medanta hospital in Gurugram on Monday morning. Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son and SP chief Akhilesh confirmed his father’s demise in a tweet through the official Twitter handle of the party.

    मेरे आदरणीय पिता जी और सबके नेता जी नहीं रहे – श्री अखिलेश यादव
    — Samajwadi Party (@samajwadiparty) October 10, 2022
    “My respected father and everyone’s leader is no more – Akhilesh Yadav,” the tweet on Samajwadi Party’s Twitter handle read. Mulayam Singh Yadav, 82, had been admitted at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram since August 22 and his condition deteriorated a week ago when the SP patriarch was shifted to ICU and then to CCU. His treatment was being supervised by a team of senior doctors from Medanta hospital. He had been on life-saving drugs.

    As per the hospital sources, Mulayam had been suffering from acute kidney malfunction leading to an imbalance in the creatinine levels in his body. In such a condition, after keeping him on dialysis for some time, the doctors shifted the veteran leader to Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) support and life-saving drugs.

    After the SP informed of Mulayam Singh’s poor health condition on Sunday, October 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath had spoken to Akhilesh to enquire about his father’s health. PM Modi had also assured him of all possible help and assistance.

  • Power Games: Nitish wants to reunite old Janata Dal splinters

    Express News Service

    Mission 2024Nitish wants to reunite old Janata Dal splinters

    Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has been in touch with the leaders of the erstwhile Janata Dal’s splinters to try and unite them before the next Lok Sabha elections. The four breakaway parties of the old Janata Dal had recently come together on one platform at a public meeting organised by Om Prakash Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). Sources close to Kumar said that he wants a merger of his Janata Dal (United), Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, Deve Gowda’s Janata Dal (Secular) and the INLD. This, he feels, will provide an all-India alternative to the BJP in the 2024 general elections. Nitish Kumar wants this united Janata Dal to ally with the Congress to challenge the might of the BJP which appears assured of a victory in the absence of a credible national alternative. Nitish had recently met Congress president Sonia Gandhi along with Lalu Yadav where he had raised the issue of alliance. Sonia asked him to discuss the issue with the new party president after the conclusion of the party’s organisational elections.

    Rise of RupeeIndia to sign rupee trade deal with UAE, Nigeria

    India is close to signing a deal with the United Arab Emirates and Nigeria to facilitate trade in rupee with the two countries. Sources said that the deals with the two countries will be on the lines of the Indo-Russian rupee-rouble deal. The trade with the two countries will reportedly be conducted using the US dollar as the benchmark for the exchange rate. India has of late been facing trouble in making payments for the Russian oil. Payment for Russian oil in Emirati Dirham has been stopped after US reportedly tightened screws on UAE’s Mashrek Bank which was handling these payments for the Indian companies. With the US sanctions making it difficult for India to make payments for the Russian oil, India now plans to buy oil from UAE and Nigeria by making payment in rupee once the deal comes through. Indian officials have been working with their counterparts in UAE and Nigeria and the deal is likely to be announced in October 2022.

    Legal NotesWhy Rohatgi refused to head govt’s legal team

    More than the appointment of R Venkataramani as the new Attorney General, the legal fraternity has been talking about Mukul  Rohatgi’s refusal to take up the post of government’s top law officer. Sources said the top-notch senior advocate was all set to take up the job. A message was reportedly conveyed to him about the appointment, and he had given his consent. Rohatgi had handled the responsibility in 2014, when the Narendra Modi government first came to power, and an encore was considered a smooth affair. Arrangements were being finalised for the crowning and news of the impending appointment was splashed all over the media. But Rohatgi suddenly declined the offer and R Venkataramani was appointed as the Attorney General. The reason as to why he refused the offer has been a subject of hot debates among the black gowns. Sources said that Rohatgi was told by his friends that 2022 is not 2014, and Kiren Rijiju is not Arun Jaitley! Rohatgi was told that a law officer, who holds an important position in the central government’s legal team, wields all the power in the current regime as he enjoys the same level of confidence among the top Union ministers as Rohatgi enjoyed during Jaitley’s tenure. As a result, his tenure may not be as smooth as the previous one, he was told. Rohatgi reportedly found merit in the input and decided to stay away from the A-G’s post.

    Mission 2024
    Nitish wants to reunite old Janata Dal splinters

    Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has been in touch with the leaders of the erstwhile Janata Dal’s splinters to try and unite them before the next Lok Sabha elections. The four breakaway parties of the old Janata Dal had recently come together on one platform at a public meeting organised by Om Prakash Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). Sources close to Kumar said that he wants a merger of his Janata Dal (United), Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, Deve Gowda’s Janata Dal (Secular) and the INLD. This, he feels, will provide an all-India alternative to the BJP in the 2024 general elections. Nitish Kumar wants this united Janata Dal to ally with the Congress to challenge the might of the BJP which appears assured of a victory in the absence of a credible national alternative. Nitish had recently met Congress president Sonia Gandhi along with Lalu Yadav where he had raised the issue of alliance. Sonia asked him to discuss the issue with the new party president after the conclusion of the party’s organisational elections.

    Rise of Rupee
    India to sign rupee trade deal with UAE, Nigeria

    India is close to signing a deal with the United Arab Emirates and Nigeria to facilitate trade in rupee with the two countries. Sources said that the deals with the two countries will be on the lines of the Indo-Russian rupee-rouble deal. The trade with the two countries will reportedly be conducted using the US dollar as the benchmark for the exchange rate. India has of late been facing trouble in making payments for the Russian oil. Payment for Russian oil in Emirati Dirham has been stopped after US reportedly tightened screws on UAE’s Mashrek Bank which was handling these payments for the Indian companies. With the US sanctions making it difficult for India to make payments for the Russian oil, India now plans to buy oil from UAE and Nigeria by making payment in rupee once the deal comes through. Indian officials have been working with their counterparts in UAE and Nigeria and the deal is likely to be announced in October 2022.

    Legal Notes
    Why Rohatgi refused to head govt’s legal team

    More than the appointment of R Venkataramani as the new Attorney General, the legal fraternity has been talking about Mukul  Rohatgi’s refusal to take up the post of government’s top law officer. Sources said the top-notch senior advocate was all set to take up the job. A message was reportedly conveyed to him about the appointment, and he had given his consent. Rohatgi had handled the responsibility in 2014, when the Narendra Modi government first came to power, and an encore was considered a smooth affair. Arrangements were being finalised for the crowning and news of the impending appointment was splashed all over the media. But Rohatgi suddenly declined the offer and R Venkataramani was appointed as the Attorney General. The reason as to why he refused the offer has been a subject of hot debates among the black gowns. Sources said that Rohatgi was told by his friends that 2022 is not 2014, and Kiren Rijiju is not Arun Jaitley! Rohatgi was told that a law officer, who holds an important position in the central government’s legal team, wields all the power in the current regime as he enjoys the same level of confidence among the top Union ministers as Rohatgi enjoyed during Jaitley’s tenure. As a result, his tenure may not be as smooth as the previous one, he was told. Rohatgi reportedly found merit in the input and decided to stay away from the A-G’s post.

  • Samajwadi Party’s march towards UP Vidhan Bhavan stopped midway 

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Police on Monday stopped the protest march taken out by the Samajwadi Party highlighting the issues in Uttar Pradesh before the monsoon session of the state legislature.

    As the SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, legislators and other party workers started moving towards the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Bhavan from the party office located on Vikramaditya Marg, police stopped them near Vikramaditya Marg crossing.

    Following this Yadav and the other party leaders sat on a dharna there.

    During the march, the party MLAs and MLCs will raise issues of unemployment, price rise, crime against women and poor law and order situation in the state, the SP’s chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said here on Sunday.

    Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Piyush Mordia told PTI that the SP leaders were stopped near Vikramaditya Marg crossing. No arrests have been made so far in this regard, Mordia said. He said the party was given a route to take out their march but they did not opt for that route and went on another route, following which they were stopped.

    Mordia said the party workers were stopped, so that the common public does not face any inconvenience and there is no law and order problem.

    ALSO READ | Samajwadi Party takes out march against UP govt, security tight in Lucknow

    In view of the march, barricades were put up on Vikramaditya Marg by the police and the public was not allowed to use the road.

    The SP chief reached the party office at around 10 am from where he along with other legislators and party workers started marching towards the Vidhan Bhavan.

    The party’s planned protest at the Legislative Assembly against inflation, unemployment, and the law-and-order situation in the state could not begin on September 14 as police stopped its leaders from reaching the spot.

    Police personnel were stationed outside the SP office and the residences of its leaders in Lucknow hours before the scheduled protest. Heavy police deployment was also visible near the Legislative Assembly in Hazratganj.

    ALSO READ | CM Yogi exudes confidence ahead of Monsoon session, says will respond to opposition’s questions

    The protest was scheduled to start in front of the statue of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on the Assembly premises.

    The police personnel deployed outside the SP office stopped the party’s leaders from reaching the Legislative Assembly for the protest. They were instead taken to Eco-Garden.

    LUCKNOW: Police on Monday stopped the protest march taken out by the Samajwadi Party highlighting the issues in Uttar Pradesh before the monsoon session of the state legislature.

    As the SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, legislators and other party workers started moving towards the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Bhavan from the party office located on Vikramaditya Marg, police stopped them near Vikramaditya Marg crossing.

    Following this Yadav and the other party leaders sat on a dharna there.

    During the march, the party MLAs and MLCs will raise issues of unemployment, price rise, crime against women and poor law and order situation in the state, the SP’s chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said here on Sunday.

    Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Piyush Mordia told PTI that the SP leaders were stopped near Vikramaditya Marg crossing. No arrests have been made so far in this regard, Mordia said. He said the party was given a route to take out their march but they did not opt for that route and went on another route, following which they were stopped.

    Mordia said the party workers were stopped, so that the common public does not face any inconvenience and there is no law and order problem.

    ALSO READ | Samajwadi Party takes out march against UP govt, security tight in Lucknow

    In view of the march, barricades were put up on Vikramaditya Marg by the police and the public was not allowed to use the road.

    The SP chief reached the party office at around 10 am from where he along with other legislators and party workers started marching towards the Vidhan Bhavan.

    The party’s planned protest at the Legislative Assembly against inflation, unemployment, and the law-and-order situation in the state could not begin on September 14 as police stopped its leaders from reaching the spot.

    Police personnel were stationed outside the SP office and the residences of its leaders in Lucknow hours before the scheduled protest. Heavy police deployment was also visible near the Legislative Assembly in Hazratganj.

    ALSO READ | CM Yogi exudes confidence ahead of Monsoon session, says will respond to opposition’s questions

    The protest was scheduled to start in front of the statue of former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on the Assembly premises.

    The police personnel deployed outside the SP office stopped the party’s leaders from reaching the Legislative Assembly for the protest. They were instead taken to Eco-Garden.

  • BJP government against backward classes, poor: Akhilesh Yadav

    The government should declare a public holiday on the day, he demanded. The Uttar Pradesh government in 2017 had cancelled 15 public holidays, including Vishwakarma Jayanti.

  • Lucknow dairy: I-T raids on lesser-known parties exposes ‘donation scam’

    Express News Service

    New political scion on the horizon?

    There is a new character in the ongoing verbal duel between the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party that has continued since their bitter divorce in 2019. The previous Lok Sabha polls have seen the two arch-rivals coming together after 24 years.

    While BSP chief Mayawati has been taking on SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav on social media, this week it was her nephew Akash Anand who joined the exchange. After Akhilesh termed BSP a party controlled by a jailer sitting in Delhi, Anand hit back: The person who is talking about jailer and jail is the one whose `chacha’ and `Rampur waale uncle’ have not understood till now as to why is he not coming out of his AC room and whose party workers can not dare to ask him why he wakes up from sleep at 2 (in the noon).

    “I don’t know what confusion is Akhilesh Yadav Ji living in?”,  Anand said in another tweet. Is a new political scion on the horizon?

    ALSO READ | Days after Nitish-Mulayam meet, poster at SP office: ‘UP+Bihar gayi Modi sarkar’

    Lucknow’s Own Jurassic Park

    The state capital will have several new additions to the existing Janeshwar Mishra Park, which is spread over a whopping 275 acres. The first one of these would be a Perfume Park along the lines of a similar facility in Dubai. For the perfume park, Lucknow Development Authority has released the initial amount.

    Besides, the vacant space of Janeshwar Mishra Park will also have a Jurassic Park and a Motion Park. Jurassic Park will have moving Dinosaurs made of old tyres. Both parks would have exhibits made of worn-off stuff to keep them environment-friendly. Visitors will have to cough an additional Rs 100 to visitthese parks, over and above Rs 10 entry fee for the JM Park.

    Hidden treasure

    The recent I-T raids on lesser-known parties to expose the ‘donation scam’ have come up with eye-opening discoveries. The raid in UP has exposed transactions worth Rs 425 crore by a party and its leader not many would be aware of — Apna Desh led by Abdul Mabood Idrisi.

    ALSO READ | Bihar cops allegedly kept inside lockup by SP, association seeks judicial probe

    This gentleman also runs a watch repair shop in Sultanpur. It is alleged that Idrisi had made a person called Razzaq the state president of his party in Gujarat and maximum donations have come from the western state, which is being considered a bid to turn black money into white.

    The I-T sleuths have taken droves of documents from Idrisi’s place after a 16-hour search operation, say sources.

    New political scion on the horizon?

    There is a new character in the ongoing verbal duel between the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party that has continued since their bitter divorce in 2019. The previous Lok Sabha polls have seen the two arch-rivals coming together after 24 years.

    While BSP chief Mayawati has been taking on SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav on social media, this week it was her nephew Akash Anand who joined the exchange. After Akhilesh termed BSP a party controlled by a jailer sitting in Delhi, Anand hit back: The person who is talking about jailer and jail is the one whose `chacha’ and `Rampur waale uncle’ have not understood till now as to why is he not coming out of his AC room and whose party workers can not dare to ask him why he wakes up from sleep at 2 (in the noon).

    “I don’t know what confusion is Akhilesh Yadav Ji living in?”,  Anand said in another tweet. Is a new political scion on the horizon?

    ALSO READ | Days after Nitish-Mulayam meet, poster at SP office: ‘UP+Bihar gayi Modi sarkar’

    Lucknow’s Own Jurassic Park

    The state capital will have several new additions to the existing Janeshwar Mishra Park, which is spread over a whopping 275 acres. The first one of these would be a Perfume Park along the lines of a similar facility in Dubai. For the perfume park, Lucknow Development Authority has released the initial amount.

    Besides, the vacant space of Janeshwar Mishra Park will also have a Jurassic Park and a Motion Park. Jurassic Park will have moving Dinosaurs made of old tyres. Both parks would have exhibits made of worn-off stuff to keep them environment-friendly. Visitors will have to cough an additional Rs 100 to visit
    these parks, over and above Rs 10 entry fee for the JM Park.

    Hidden treasure

    The recent I-T raids on lesser-known parties to expose the ‘donation scam’ have come up with eye-opening discoveries. The raid in UP has exposed transactions worth Rs 425 crore by a party and its leader not many would be aware of — Apna Desh led by Abdul Mabood Idrisi.

    ALSO READ | Bihar cops allegedly kept inside lockup by SP, association seeks judicial probe

    This gentleman also runs a watch repair shop in Sultanpur. It is alleged that Idrisi had made a person called Razzaq the state president of his party in Gujarat and maximum donations have come from the western state, which is being considered a bid to turn black money into white.

    The I-T sleuths have taken droves of documents from Idrisi’s place after a 16-hour search operation, say sources.

  • Uttar Pradesh BJP snubs Akhilesh for offering CMship to Keshav Maurya 

    By Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Reacting to the purported offer extended by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya to part ways with the BJP and become the CM, newly elected UP BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhury advised the SP chief to worry about his MLAs and allies who were allegedly in contact with the ruling party.

    Responding to Yadav’s statement given during a programme organised by a news channel, Chaudhury took to Twitter saying that Maurya was a certified and dedicated worker of the party who is devoted to the BJP’s ideology. “Keshav ji is a certified worker of the organisation, of the party and dedicated to the ideology of BJP. He will always be with us, he is not a leader who falls in selfishness,” Chaudhary tweeted.

    In another tweet, Chaudhary said, “Akhilesh Yadav should worry about his alliance, his family, his party, and his MLAs because his MLAs are in touch with us.”

    Yadav had reportedly suggested Maurya for a grand alliance against the BJP on the lines of Bihar where Nitish Kumar tied up with RJD and Congress to make government. 

    However, in the recent legislative Assembly polls, Maurya had lost to Apna Dal-Kamerawadi leader Pallavi Patel who had contested on the SP ticket from Sirathu, Maurya’s traditional seat. 

    The SP won 111 seats and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) eight. Two other alliance partners Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (six MLAs) and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (one MLA) have since then parted ways with the SP. The BJP has 255 seats and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) 272 in the 403-member state Assembly.

    Significantly, Akhilesh and Maurya had a face-off on the floor of the Assembly which had hit the headlines and the SP chief had drawn widespread criticism over the use of unparliamentary language against Maurya.

    LUCKNOW: Reacting to the purported offer extended by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya to part ways with the BJP and become the CM, newly elected UP BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhury advised the SP chief to worry about his MLAs and allies who were allegedly in contact with the ruling party.

    Responding to Yadav’s statement given during a programme organised by a news channel, Chaudhury took to Twitter saying that Maurya was a certified and dedicated worker of the party who is devoted to the BJP’s ideology. “Keshav ji is a certified worker of the organisation, of the party and dedicated to the ideology of BJP. He will always be with us, he is not a leader who falls in selfishness,” Chaudhary tweeted.

    In another tweet, Chaudhary said, “Akhilesh Yadav should worry about his alliance, his family, his party, and his MLAs because his MLAs are in touch with us.”

    Yadav had reportedly suggested Maurya for a grand alliance against the BJP on the lines of Bihar where Nitish Kumar tied up with RJD and Congress to make government. 

    However, in the recent legislative Assembly polls, Maurya had lost to Apna Dal-Kamerawadi leader Pallavi Patel who had contested on the SP ticket from Sirathu, Maurya’s traditional seat. 

    The SP won 111 seats and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) eight. Two other alliance partners Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (six MLAs) and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (one MLA) have since then parted ways with the SP. The BJP has 255 seats and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) 272 in the 403-member state Assembly.

    Significantly, Akhilesh and Maurya had a face-off on the floor of the Assembly which had hit the headlines and the SP chief had drawn widespread criticism over the use of unparliamentary language against Maurya.

  • Opposition’s show of strength: INLD’s September 25 rally aims to bring Nitish, Tejashwi, Pawar on one stage

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: To display Opposition unity, the INLD has invited Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav and Farooq Abdullah for its September 25 rally which will also be attended by Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav, party leader Abhay Chautala said Tuesday.

    The INLD national general secretary said the former prime minister and JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal and Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik have also been invited to the rally.

    An invitation will also be sent to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, TDP president Chandrababu Naidu and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Chautala told PTI.

    He said, “During a meeting with Nitish Kumar ji, INLD supremo O P Chautala invited him to the September 25 rally in Fatehabad, and he agreed to attend the meeting.”

    When contacted, JD(U) leader K C Tyagi confirmed that Kumar will attend the rally along with Tejashwi Yadav.

    “To mark the birthday of former deputy prime minister Devi Lal, various opposition leaders will come together on one stage and it would be an appropriate occasion to discuss various issues,” Tyagi told PTI.

    O P Chautala claimed that people are fed up with the BJP and “an atmosphere against the ruling party at the Centre is building in the country”.

    “The September 25 rally will not only showcase opposition unity but also anger against the BJP government,” he said, adding all socialist and erstwhile Janata Dal leaders should come on one stage.

    The INLD has been organising public rallies on the birthday of its founder Devi Lal and has been inviting various leaders from opposition parties, other than the Congress.

    NEW DELHI: To display Opposition unity, the INLD has invited Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav and Farooq Abdullah for its September 25 rally which will also be attended by Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav, party leader Abhay Chautala said Tuesday.

    The INLD national general secretary said the former prime minister and JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal and Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik have also been invited to the rally.

    An invitation will also be sent to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, TDP president Chandrababu Naidu and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Chautala told PTI.

    He said, “During a meeting with Nitish Kumar ji, INLD supremo O P Chautala invited him to the September 25 rally in Fatehabad, and he agreed to attend the meeting.”

    When contacted, JD(U) leader K C Tyagi confirmed that Kumar will attend the rally along with Tejashwi Yadav.

    “To mark the birthday of former deputy prime minister Devi Lal, various opposition leaders will come together on one stage and it would be an appropriate occasion to discuss various issues,” Tyagi told PTI.

    O P Chautala claimed that people are fed up with the BJP and “an atmosphere against the ruling party at the Centre is building in the country”.

    “The September 25 rally will not only showcase opposition unity but also anger against the BJP government,” he said, adding all socialist and erstwhile Janata Dal leaders should come on one stage.

    The INLD has been organising public rallies on the birthday of its founder Devi Lal and has been inviting various leaders from opposition parties, other than the Congress.

  • Developments in Bihar positive sign for national politics: Akhilesh Yadav

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Thursday that the political shift in Bihar is a “positive sign” and hoped a strong alternative to the BJP is formed in the 2024 Parliamentary polls.

    He also claimed that the BJP’s allies in Uttar Pradesh are not happy with it and will also break free from the saffron party in the future. JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar recently dumped the BJP and joined hands with Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and other parties to form a new government in Bihar.

    In an interview with PTI at the party headquarter here, Yadav said his party is focusing on strengthening and restructuring its organisation and will be holding a national convention this year. The SP chief also accused the Election Commission of “dishonesty” and blamed it for his party’s defeat in the assembly polls as well in the bypolls for Azamgarh and Ramgarh seats.

    When asked about the developments in Bihar, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, “It (Bihar development) is a positive sign for the country’s politics.”

    “Political allies are not happy with the BJP. See in UP what they (BJP allies) are getting. One day they will also run away from them,” he said without elaborating.

    The BJP had tied up with the Apna Dal (Sonelal) and Nishad party in the assembly polls. About the 2024 parliamentary polls, Yadav said, “I hope a strong alternative will be formed against the BJP and people will support it.”

    About his party’s role in the formation of an alternative, Yadav said, “Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar are working on it. Our focus as of now is strengthening our party in the state.”

    ALSO READ | ‘BJP-RSS trying to hide dark pages of its past through Har Ghar Tiranga campaign’: Akhilesh

    After the political upheaval in neighbouring Bihar, talks started doing the rounds in Uttar Pradesh if it could be replicated in the most populous state which sends a maximum of 80 MPs to Lok Sabha. It was also debated in political circles if Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati would again combine against the BJP in 2024.

    Though the “Bua-Babua” (Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav) failed to stop the BJP in Uttar Pradesh in 2019, they managed to lower its tally to 62 from 71 in 2014. The BJP’s number went up to 64 after victory in Azamgarh and Rampur in the by-election.

    Its ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) led by union minister of state Anupriya Patel has two MPs.

    In the opposition camp, the BSP has 10 MPs while Yadav’s strength has come down to three from five after the bypoll defeat. Congress president Sonia Gandhi is the lone representative of her party from UP.

    Though there is no early indication of a realignment of parties in Uttar Pradesh, BJP leaders have already dismissed any impact on them if it comes, saying the different combination of opposition parties have faced drubbing from the saffron party in 2014 as well in 2019 and also state polls.

    Yadav said the SP will hold a national convention this year and the focus is on strengthening the party at the booth level.

    “Our membership drive is going on and is getting a good response. This time the drive is through a mobile app, online and QR code also besides traditional ways,” he added.

    About the municipal corporation polls scheduled later this year, Yadav said the party has made in-charges for this and preparation is on.

    ALSO READ | ‘Taught a lesson by socialists in Bihar, BJP will also be thrown out of UP’: Akhilesh on NDA’s breakdown

    Yadav said the SP had contested past polls with an appeal to save democracy and now after the polls, the results are in front of everyone.

    “There is no unbiased institution left in the country. Under pressure, the government is getting whatever it wants from these institutions,” Yadav alleged.

    Blaming the EC for the party’s rout in assembly polls and bypolls, he said, “The EC did a lot of dishonesty. It did not hear opposition voices. A large number of votes were cut from the electoral rolls.”

    “In Rampur, SP workers were not allowed to cast votes while in Azamgarh, red cards were issued to SP workers. Was the EC sleeping? It did not pay heed to our complaints,” Yadav alleged, asking the poll body to improve its functioning.

    On record Covid vaccination in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav alleged that all “data for the second dose vaccination is fake”. Attacking the state government on the law and order situation, Yadav said it is in “bad shape” while the medical system has collapsed.

    “There is no medicine, no treatment and no operation. The machines used have become obsolete be it for X-ray, MRI or CT Scan. In medical universities in the state ‘dalals’ are roaming,” Yadav said.

    ALSO READ | Akhilesh calls Bihar developments ‘good start’, says ‘BJP Bhagao’ slogan coming from state

    Officers and ministers are doing ‘manmarji’ (working on whims and fancies), while the chief minister is busy in review meetings, he added.

    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Thursday that the political shift in Bihar is a “positive sign” and hoped a strong alternative to the BJP is formed in the 2024 Parliamentary polls.

    He also claimed that the BJP’s allies in Uttar Pradesh are not happy with it and will also break free from the saffron party in the future. JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar recently dumped the BJP and joined hands with Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and other parties to form a new government in Bihar.

    In an interview with PTI at the party headquarter here, Yadav said his party is focusing on strengthening and restructuring its organisation and will be holding a national convention this year. The SP chief also accused the Election Commission of “dishonesty” and blamed it for his party’s defeat in the assembly polls as well in the bypolls for Azamgarh and Ramgarh seats.

    When asked about the developments in Bihar, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, “It (Bihar development) is a positive sign for the country’s politics.”

    “Political allies are not happy with the BJP. See in UP what they (BJP allies) are getting. One day they will also run away from them,” he said without elaborating.

    The BJP had tied up with the Apna Dal (Sonelal) and Nishad party in the assembly polls. About the 2024 parliamentary polls, Yadav said, “I hope a strong alternative will be formed against the BJP and people will support it.”

    About his party’s role in the formation of an alternative, Yadav said, “Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar are working on it. Our focus as of now is strengthening our party in the state.”

    ALSO READ | ‘BJP-RSS trying to hide dark pages of its past through Har Ghar Tiranga campaign’: Akhilesh

    After the political upheaval in neighbouring Bihar, talks started doing the rounds in Uttar Pradesh if it could be replicated in the most populous state which sends a maximum of 80 MPs to Lok Sabha. It was also debated in political circles if Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati would again combine against the BJP in 2024.

    Though the “Bua-Babua” (Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav) failed to stop the BJP in Uttar Pradesh in 2019, they managed to lower its tally to 62 from 71 in 2014. The BJP’s number went up to 64 after victory in Azamgarh and Rampur in the by-election.

    Its ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) led by union minister of state Anupriya Patel has two MPs.

    In the opposition camp, the BSP has 10 MPs while Yadav’s strength has come down to three from five after the bypoll defeat. Congress president Sonia Gandhi is the lone representative of her party from UP.

    Though there is no early indication of a realignment of parties in Uttar Pradesh, BJP leaders have already dismissed any impact on them if it comes, saying the different combination of opposition parties have faced drubbing from the saffron party in 2014 as well in 2019 and also state polls.

    Yadav said the SP will hold a national convention this year and the focus is on strengthening the party at the booth level.

    “Our membership drive is going on and is getting a good response. This time the drive is through a mobile app, online and QR code also besides traditional ways,” he added.

    About the municipal corporation polls scheduled later this year, Yadav said the party has made in-charges for this and preparation is on.

    ALSO READ | ‘Taught a lesson by socialists in Bihar, BJP will also be thrown out of UP’: Akhilesh on NDA’s breakdown

    Yadav said the SP had contested past polls with an appeal to save democracy and now after the polls, the results are in front of everyone.

    “There is no unbiased institution left in the country. Under pressure, the government is getting whatever it wants from these institutions,” Yadav alleged.

    Blaming the EC for the party’s rout in assembly polls and bypolls, he said, “The EC did a lot of dishonesty. It did not hear opposition voices. A large number of votes were cut from the electoral rolls.”

    “In Rampur, SP workers were not allowed to cast votes while in Azamgarh, red cards were issued to SP workers. Was the EC sleeping? It did not pay heed to our complaints,” Yadav alleged, asking the poll body to improve its functioning.

    On record Covid vaccination in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav alleged that all “data for the second dose vaccination is fake”. Attacking the state government on the law and order situation, Yadav said it is in “bad shape” while the medical system has collapsed.

    “There is no medicine, no treatment and no operation. The machines used have become obsolete be it for X-ray, MRI or CT Scan. In medical universities in the state ‘dalals’ are roaming,” Yadav said.

    ALSO READ | Akhilesh calls Bihar developments ‘good start’, says ‘BJP Bhagao’ slogan coming from state

    Officers and ministers are doing ‘manmarji’ (working on whims and fancies), while the chief minister is busy in review meetings, he added.