SP slams BJP for 'copying' election manifesto

A day after BJP released its UP poll manifesto, Samajwadi Party accused it of "directly lifting" several key sops from the SP manifesto.

A day after BJP released its UP poll manifesto, Samajwadi Party accused it of "directly lifting" several key sops from the SP manifesto.

"The BJP has lifted several key sops and promises from the SP manifesto," SP state president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said while addressing an election rally in Kushinagar.

The BJP released its election manifesto on Friday and like SP it has come up with commitments to provide laptops and tablet computers to students.

Dispelling all speculations, the SP leader said that the party president Mulayam Singh Yadav would be chief minister once the SP comes to power in UP.

Lashing out at BSP, Yadav said that instead of working for the poor, the state government has spent more funds on statues and memorials.

He claimed that if SP comes to power, all the statues would be removed.

In an apparent attempt to appease minorities, Yadav said, "on coming to power, SP would provide Rs 30,000 to Muslim girls who clear Class X".

Yadav also accused the BSP of indirectly strengthening Congress is the state.