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Under attack from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday hit back at him asking whether education and irrigation had been made free in Gujarat like Uttar Pradesh. He also charged BJP with instigating riots to impede growth.
“I heard his (Modi’s) speech... He said nothing has been done for farmers, but I ask whether he has made education, irrigation and health care free in his home state like Uttar Pradesh,” Yadav said addressing the Desh Bachao, Desh Banao (Save the Country, Build the Country) rally in Gonda.
“Over Rs 16.50 crore of loans of the Land Development Bank has been waived off and provisions have been made to ban auction of farmers’ land, but what have you done Modi saheb?” he asked, and added that the state cabinet had also approved free medical treatment for serious ailments such as cancer. Rejecting allegations of discrimination in the Muzaffarnagar riot relief work, he said “riots are unfortunate and should not have happened”, but the state government had done everything possible to provide employment and house to the victims.
The SP chief questioned Modi as to what he had done for the riot victims in Gujarat, and recalled how the locals, especially women, apprised him of their problems which he “cannot utter from the dais”.
Alleging that hurdles are being created in development of the state, Yadav asked who was behind the Muzaffarnagar riots. “When we start development, murders are committed and fires are set on... Who did Muzaffarnagar... Are your MLAs not involved?” he asked. Accusing Modi of discrimination Yadav said, “We do not discriminate. We had given land to the Sikhs in the terai region of the state, but in Gujarat you have been trying to snatch lands from Sikhs and conspiring to throw them out. Why are Sikhs being troubled in Gujarat? Why is the government trying to grab their land?” he asked.
