National water policy needed: Mulayam

"The river linking projects will take 100 years to complete and require heavy budgetary outlays," he told party workers here. Yadav said the country would face a "serious potable water crisis by 2025" and rain water harvesting was the best alternative.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said his party was of the view that "without a national water policy, there is no solution to the water crisis". He also expressed concern over rising prices and advocated for more minimum support price for farmers.

Party General Secretary Amar Singh accused UP Chief Minister Mayawati of "making politics a business" and her Rajasthan counterpart Vasundhara Raje of "promoting casteism".

Speaking on the occasion, party MP Jaya Bachchan said the tabling of the Women's Reservation bill in the Rajya Sabha earlier this week was "only a gimmick".