Opposition hits out at PM Modi's 'sarab' remarks

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for dubbing the SP-RLD-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh as- Sarab- an acronym coined by taking the first letters of the three parties.

During a rally in Meerut on Thursday, the Prime Minister said: "Take 'sa' from Samajwadi Party, 'ra' from Rashtriya Lok Dal and 'b' from Bahujan Samaj Party, it would make Sarab," he said at a public rally in Meerut.

"Shouldn't we rescue ourselves from sarab for the good health of UP ?" Modi told the audience.

Slamming the Prime Minister for his statement, Akhilesh Yadave took to his official twitter handle to state that Modi had mixed up 'sarab' (a mirage) and 'sharab' (liqour)

"Today the teleprompter has revealed the truth that those who promote hate don't know the difference between 'sarab' and 'sharab'. Sarab also means a mirage and it is a blurry dream the BJP has been showing for five years... Now, when elections are coming, he is showing a new sarab" Akhilesh Yadav said.

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati also attacked Prime Minister Modi stating that the BSP-SP-RLD alliance has been stitched to free the country from anti-poor, anti-democratic and anti-people government.

"Doing politics of personal, caste and communal hatred is the beauty of the BJP company, for which the government has been misusing its power. The BSP-SP-RLD alliance has been stitched to free the country from anti-poor, anti-democratic and anti-people government," she tweeted.

Uttar Pradesh will go to polls in seven phases, from April 11 to May 19. Counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala addressing a press conference today said it was not befitting of the Prime Minister to term the alliance to sharab or liqour.

"Is it fair to like the RLD, SP and BSP alliance to sharab? Is this not a violation of law, constitution and code of conduct in the country? Sometimes you use television, take credit for the achievements of scientists and today you are saying this. Is this a way that the PM should talk? Can people accept this," Surjewala said.