Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has sharply retaliated on the statement of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Maurya had offered to send gas cylinders to Akhilesh Yadav, on which the SP chief advised Maurya to become the ‘delivery CM’. This comment of Akhilesh Yadav is being considered a part of the strategy of direct attacks in current politics and focusing on issues to the public.
Akhilesh Yadav said that in the present times, there is a great need for ‘delivery boys’ and in such a situation, the Deputy Chief Minister should now become ‘delivery CM’ to provide help to the people. He suggested that Keshav Prasad Maurya leave the post of Deputy Chief Minister and adopt this new role and work on delivering cylinders or other essential items wherever needed. This statement has come in response to Keshav Prasad Maurya’s comment in which he had said, “If Akhilesh Yadav does not have the cylinder, then send the information to us. We will send the cylinder.” Maurya’s statement probably came after Akhilesh raised questions on the prices and availability of LPG cylinders.
The SP chief also raised serious questions on the government regarding the actual condition of gas cylinders in the state. He said that innumerable lines of consumers are seen waiting for gas cylinders in various areas of Uttar Pradesh, while the government continuously claims that cylinders are available in sufficient quantity. Questioning the government’s policies, Akhilesh asked that if cylinders are actually available, then why 10 kg cylinders are being given instead of the normal 14 kg cylinders. He alleged that the move puts additional economic burden on consumers as they often have to pay the same price for less gas and have to refill their cylinders more frequently.
Akhilesh Yadav compared this policy of the government to stealing sacks of fertilizer and said that now they are doing the same with the cylinders, due to which the public is facing problems. He further said sarcastically that the next step would probably be that the government would ask to make roti also smaller, which highlights the growing difficulties of the common man amid inflation and shortage of essential commodities. He directly asked the government what it was doing amidst all these problems.
In a separate development, serious allegations have also been made on the functioning of the police administration in the state. Alleging police irregularities in Sultanpur, Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Devendra Pratap Singh has written a detailed letter to the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court. In this letter, he has mentioned the alleged irregularities and arbitrariness being committed by the police personnel, which are hindering the general public from getting justice.
Taking his point forward, MLC Singh said that due to this attitude of the police, a large number of people have lodged complaints with the Human Rights Commission. On the basis of these complaints, several notices have been sent to the government by the Human Rights Commission, which raise serious questions on the functioning of the police. He also said that many citizens have approached the courts in the hope of justice, which makes it clear that people’s trust in the police is decreasing.
Devendra Pratap Singh gave a stern warning to the state officials and said that when the time of justice comes, many officials will find themselves alone. He clearly said that the officers involved in such carelessness and irregularities will have to go to jail and even their family members will not be able to get them out of this situation. This warning is a serious message towards fixing accountability in the administration and improving law and order, which puts pressure on the officers to be more alert towards their duties.
