SP demands recall of UP Governor Ram Naik

Refutes allegation of preference to Yadavs in postings

In clear indicator of a flashpoint in tumultuous relationship between Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and the state government, the ruling Samajwadi Party today demanded the former be recalled over his alleged undignified remarks against the Akhilesh Yadav government.

Simultaneously, the party has refuted the allegation of preference to officials belonging to the Yadav community in key government postings.

The party demanded the Prime Minister to recall Naik and sought a public apology from the Governor for sullying the guvernatorial office with his remarks.

Naik has recently completed a year as UP Governor. The Yadav government would be seeking reelection in the early months of 2017.

While, the Governor shares a cordial personal relationship with both SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, he is vocal and unforgiving on the law and order issues.

In the last one year, Naik had written about 175 letters to the UP chief minister and his cabinet ministers, majority of which were on law and order and issues of land grab.

What raised heckles in the party, which has proved to be the tipping point, was the Governor's latest remark over the purported preference given to a particular caste (Yadav) in key government postings.

Interacting with journalists here at Raj Bhawan on July 22, Naik - replying to a question - had said he would seek a report from the Akhilesh government on the matter as he had also seen news reports about the alleged priority accorded to a particular caste in postings.

While, the ruling party has rubbished the Governor's observations, SP national general secretary Ramgopal Yadav has issued a two-page letter to media giving details of the total number of senior administration and police officials belonging to the Yadav community.

Out of the 287 and 227 senior IAS and IPS officials holding important posts, only 21 and 14 respectively belong to the members of the Yadav community. The letters also details the postings of/in PCS, PWD, irrigation, State Bridge Corporation etc to negate the allegations of tilt towards Yadav community officials.

Ramgopal Yadav has urged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to declare its CM candidate for the 2017 polls, so that he could indulge in more vitriolic attack on the state dispensation.