Akhilesh questions BJP's claim of biggest political party

Questioning claims of BJP becoming the biggest political party in the world, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said if people benefitting from state government schemes were made members of the ruling Samajwadi Party, it can leave all others behind.

"Which agency says that BJP is the biggest party in the world? ...I will appeal to workers that if only those benefitting from our schemes are made SP members, other political parties will be left behind," Yadav told newspersons after a meeting of the state cabinet here.

"The problem with the Samajwadis is that even those who are benefitting from government schemes do not know who is providing them the benefits," he said.

BJP chief Amit Shah has claimed that BJP has 10.3 crore members, making it the biggest political party in the world.

Citing examples, Yadav said while distributing cheques to beneficiaries he asked if they knew which government is giving it to them or which party's government is working for them. Unfortunately, they were not aware of it, he said.

"At a programme in CM office (recently), while distributing cheque to a lady I asked her if she recognised the PWD minister, the speaker of the Vidhan Sabha or me... she did not recognise anyone," he said.

"If our workers are able to propagate our schemes and unite only the beneficiaries, the number of our members will leave others far behind in the state itself," he said.

"This exercise has to be taken up by the workers with the help of media...this has to be taken forward in the political system and people should be told what all the government is doing.

"I asked youth workers recently and I am also going to give the message to the organsiation to take it ahead as people have supported us in the bye-elections in Bundlekhand and Mahrajganj," he said.

"I have come to know that people are not coming along with the party despite welfare schemes and will give instructions (to party workers) that they have to work continuously for the remaining two years taking our work to villages and households and also tell people what other parties are not doing," the chief minister said.

To a question on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's disenchantment with media, he said amidst laughter, "Should I speak the truth...I too am forced to tolerate...you people cannot be relied upon."

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister met his Delhi counterpart yesterday in the national capital.

Yadav said the cabinet meeting decided that all the ministers will donate a month's salary in chief minister's relief fund for extending help to Nepal earthquake victims.

A cheque of Rs 25 lakh was handed over to him for the relief fund by UP Sahkari Chini Mill Sangh and another cheque of Rs one lakh by SP Mahila Sabha.

Principal Secretary Finance Rahul Bhatnagar, who was also present, said the state has distributed Rs 1,400 crore to farmers hit by untimely rain and hailstorm in the state.

"The contingency fund has also been increased from Rs 600 crore to Rs 5,000 crore and a demand of Rs 6,700 crore has been made from the Centre," he said, adding that so far Rs 253 crore has been provided by the Centre.