Wrong policies of Congress brought BJP to power: Mulayam

Says several political parties which claim themselves to be secular, indirectly supported BJP

Samajwadi Party Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today blamed Congress' wrong policies for BJP coming to power at the Centre and alleged that even the so-called "secular parties" indirectly helped the saffron party.

"It was due to the wrong policies of Congress, that BJP came to power at the Centre. Only SP fought against BJP. Several political parties which claim themselves to be secular, indirectly supported BJP," Yadav alleged.

Addressing a programme during the foundation stone laying ceremony of Sainik School here, the SP supremo said, people of Mainpuri has always supported him and he has always struggled for their cause.

Referring to Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in 2017, Mulayum said, "The forthcoming election is crucial and we want that SP forms the government again. This is the lone government in the country, which has done maximum work for the poor and down trodden."

Stating that he became the Defence Minister and missed the post of Prime Minister by a whisker, Yadav said, "Being PM was not a big thing, working for people was much bigger task. Otherwise there are a number of PMs, whose name people cannot recollect, but the one who work for them is the biggest leader."

The SP supremo also said he was not in favour of foundation stone laying, but more interested in the inauguration of the school.

Speaking on the occasion, UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said, it was Netaji's (Mulayam) area and whosoever was given ticket from here emerged victorious.

Till now there was only one Sainik School at Lucknow in UP, but now there would be four, he said, adding "No other state has so many Sainik Schools. Maximum number of people join the Army from this area and maximum number of ex-servicemen live here."

Referring to Agra-Lucknow Expressway, the Chief Minister said the land for the project was acquired by giving four times more compensation to the farmers and that too without any dispute, which was appreciable.

The government was developing mandis along the expressway so that products of farmers reach cities directly, he said while highlighting various schemes of the government including distributing free laptops, Samajwadi pension scheme and ambulance service.

Referring to a recent tension and protest over a WhatsApp post at Gursahaiganj in Kannauj district, Akhilesh said the government was soon release a phone number on which objectionable post could be forwarded and action would be taken.

He also made a host of announcements for the district, besides distributing cheques under various schemes and free laptops to meritorious students.