Ram Gopal dismisses Shivpal's 'front'

Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav on Thursday trained his guns on estranged cousin Shivpal Singh Yadav, who has announced the formation of a new front of secular parties on June 8.

Ram Gopal Yadav told reporters in Etawah that Shivpal Yadav did not know what it takes to form a new party and give it roots. "Shivpal hawa mein hain (Shivpal is talking in the air)," he said.

In case he forms a front, the Rajya Sabha member said, it will be nothing compared to the Samajwadi Party.

"Ninety-eight per cent of the workers and leaders in the SP are with Akhilesh Yadav," he said. He trashed charges that party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav had been humiliated and sidelined in the party.

"Everyone in the family and the Samajwadi Party respects Netaji."

Ram Gopal Yadav, who emerged as the Man Friday and chief strategist of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav during his power struggle with his father and uncle, also slammed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for failing to control soaring crime.

"Yogi Adityanath is completely inexperienced, he does not know how to run such a large state and as a result law and order has completely collapsed. There is no rule of law in UP."

--IANS

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