Graft charges against me painful, says Ram Gopal Yadav

Expelled Samajwadi Party national General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav on Monday broke down during a press conference as he called the charges of graft levelled against him painful.

A cousin of party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, he said it was deeply saddening that charges of graft were made against him.

"I am very much part of the party, because I drafted the constitution of the party, selected its symbol and have dedicated my life to it," said the Rajya Sabha MP.

He also said that he never aspired to be a minister and added that had he wanted to be, during the US-India deal, he could have easily become one in the Manmohan Singh government.

Ram Gopal Yadav also demanded that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav be given a free hand in selecting candidates for the 2017 state assembly polls and that he also be projected the chief ministerial face of the party.

Sitting with the party symbol in the backdrop, he also said that many veterans, legislators and MPs also wanted the same. Attacking estranged cousin and state SP chief Shivpal Singh Yadav indirectly, the RS member said people were dictatorially distributing tickets in the party.

Announcing that he would write a bare all book soon, Ram Gopal Yadav also said that he will not go and meet Mulayam Singh.

He was expelled from the party for six years last month after he openly sided with Akhilesh and released letters written to Mulayam Yadav.

--IANS

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