Twitter
Advertisement

Swear by 'Ganga Maiya' on power issue: Akhilesh hits back after PM Modi's electricity jibe

UP CM Akhilesh Yadav contested PM Modi's claim about discrimination in power supply during Ramzan and Diwali in Uttar Pradesh

Latest News
article-main
Akhilesh Yadav and Narendra Modi
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav  contested Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim about discrimination in power supply during Ramzan and Diwali in Uttar Pradesh and asked him to swear by "mother Ganga" if there was any disparity. Giving an interesting twist to the no-holds-barred election campaign, Akhilesh also appeared to target Modi as he "appealed" to megastar Amitabh Bachchan not to "campaign for the donkeys of Gujarat".
Addressing a rally in Unchahar Assembly constituency in Rae Bareli district, the Chief Minister claimed that he has ensured 24-hour power supply for Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Modi, after a request from veteran BJP MLA Shyamdeo Roy Chowdhury.

"If he (Modi) claims himself to be the son of 'Ganga Maiyya' (mother Ganga), then he should answer whether SP is giving 24-hour power supply to Varanasi or not," he said. "Khao Ganga Maiyya ki kasam ki Samajwadi sarkar ne Varanasi mein 24 ghanta bijli nahi di (swear by mother Ganga that the SP government did not provide 24-hour electricity in Varanasi," Akhilesh said, in a message for Modi.

During an election rally in Fatehpur yesterday, Modi had accused the state government of adopting biased approached in all the works undertake by the state government. He had said, "....if electricity is provided on Ramzan, then it should be provided on Diwali also. If electricity is provided on Holi, it should be provided on Ramzan too. There should be no discrimination." Akhilesh also had a piece of advice for Amitabh Bachchan.

Without taking Amitabh's name, Akhilesh referred to the advertisement in which the megastar, the brand ambassador of Gujarat Tourism, is seen inviting tourists to visit the Wild Ass Sanctuary located in Little Rann of Kutch in the state. "Ek gadhe ka vigyapan aata hai. Main iss sadi ke sabse bade mahanayak se kahunga ke ab aap Gujarat ke gadhon ka prachar mat kariye (There's an ad on TV which shows donkeys. I appeal to century's biggest star, please stop endorsing the donkeys of Gujarat)," he said.

The SP chief went on to ask, "What will happen if the donkeys also start getting advertised?" The bitter remarks came at a time when parties are racing to the finish line of the state polls described by many as the semi-final before the 2019 Union election. 

Earlier, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation saying people will take revenge on BJP and its leaders will have to get "blood pressure checked" after 3rd and 4th phase of polling. "BJP has put common man in queue for their own money. Now in the elections they will once again queue up against BJP.

BJP has come to know about the people's mind and after the third and fourth phase, blood pressure of BJP leaders will have to be checked," Akhilesh told a rally with Rahul by his side. "When PM needs water in between his address and he has to wipe his sweat, then think how much people will make him sweat," he said.

Rahul said, "mood of Modi has changed" after his friendship with Akhilesh and "now smile has evaporated from his face. He has also come to know that in UP, SP and Congress are going to form the government". "Like after Bihar polls Modi did not utter the word Bihar, he will forget UP till 2019," he said. "After showing film of 'achchhe din' to people now he (PM) is acting like Gabbar Singh of Sholay and says he wants to fight corruption and turned your hard-earned money into paper. Now people will take revenge," said Rahul. Trying to strike an emotional chord with the people of Bundelkhand, Akhilesh reminded them of "empty water train sent for them by the Centre during drought" and claimed that the state government had come to their rescue.

Akhilesh also attacked Mayawati and cautioned people not to vote for BSP as it had joined hands with BJP earlier. Rahul, who was very vocal against PM, said that after his 30-day Kisan Yatra he made a demand before the Prime Minister to waive loans of farmers but Modi "kept mum when I met him in this regard". "Now he is saying let BJP win and he will get the loans waived. Modiji you are PM, call a cabinet meeting and waive the loans. For this you don't need to win elections," he said.
 

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement