Will not refer to that outsider as uncle: Akhilesh on Amar Singh

Amar Singh has been blamed by some party leaders for the crisis in the party which saw Akhilesh stripping Shivpal of three top ministries two days ago after the chief minister himself was removed as SP’s state chief and Shivpal given the post.

UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav called on Friday Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh an “outsider”, making his displeasure clear for a leader who is considered to be the party’s pointsman in Delhi.

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav at the launch of the Mulayam Sandesh Yatra at the SP office in Lucknow, on Saturday, September 10, 2016.(Ashok Dutta / HT Photo)

“I will no longer refer to that outsider as uncle,” Akhilesh told India TV news channel in an interview without naming Singh.

Akhilesh’s government was put in crisis when last week he took away three ministries from his uncle, Shivpal Yadav, and blamed “outsiders” for creating a rift in the party and his family.

Akhilesh said he should have a say when ticket distribution in the forthcoming assembly election in the state.

While replying to a query on the ongoing family feud during a popular television programme anchored by journalist Rajat Sharma, in Lucknow, Yadav said: “Netaji (Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav) and I have decided not to allow any ‘outsider’ interfere in party and family affairs.”

He asserted that in the forthcoming assembly polls in the state, he should have final authority in ticket distribution.

“I am willing to return everything, but I should have a full say when it comes to ticket distribution for the forthcoming assembly polls in the state,” he said.

The chief minister made this statement when he was told during the show that his father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had issued a statement clarifying that Gayatri Prasad Prajapati would be handed back his ministry.

Earlier this week, the chief minister had sacked minister for mining Gayatri Prajapati on charges of corruption.

“As I am answerable to the people, ticket distribution should be done as per my wish,” he asserted.

On family feud

Commenting on the ongoing feud in the family, the chief minister said he had no dispute with his uncle Shivpal Yadav. “I have not accepted his resignation,” the CM said.

On ‘law and order’

On the issue of law and order, Yadav said: “Uttar Pradesh is being targeted. But the fact is that law and order situation is even worse in other states. But these states never make news.”

The CM also spoke about the steps taken by the Uttar Pradesh government to improve law and order situation.

“On October 2, ‘Dial 100’ service will be launched. UP will be the first state to launch such a service in the country,” the CM said.

‘Dial 100’ is an emergency service to be launched by the UP government which would ensure that cops reach the spot of crime in shortest possible time. He said his government also launched ‘1090 service’ for the security of women.

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