Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 28 : Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, on Saturday, attacked the BJP government, alleging that the government is engaged in land-grabbing in every district and city. Yadav claimed that the BJP is using bulldozers and government officials to seize land, with the support of party workers and local administration.
Yadav cited the example of SP leader Mata Prasad Pandey, alleging that bulldozers were sent to stop him, with BJP workers and police officials involved.
In a Press Conference, Yadav said, "I don't know what's wrong with the BJP, wherever they see land, they seize it. And this is happening in every city and district. With the help of the administration, BJP is engaged in land grabbing. Just like when Mata Prasad Pandey was expanding something, bulldozers were sent to stop him, with BJP workers in the bulldozer's bucket, and with support from the police and the highest elected officials of the area."
The SP chief also criticised the government's failure to fulfil its promise of building a Jhansi-Gorakhpur metro, despite being in power for over a decade.
"If they really wanted to do something for Gorakhpur, they should have remembered their first announcement. They had said in Jhansi that a metro would be built in both Jhansi and Gorakhpur. But despite 11 years of the Delhi government and 9 years of this government, Gorakhpur still doesn't have a metro. They know that a big scam is going on in Gorakhpur."... If the truth of Gorakhpur comes out, then a corridor of custody will have to be built there, not of heritage...", Yadav alleged.
He demanded compensation for land acquisition in Gorakhpur at market rates, alleging that the BJP-led government is engaged in a loot system, benefiting only a select few.
"We demand compensation in Gorakhpur based on market rates. And when it came to their own land, compensation was given at the maximum possible rate, and they even flaunted their generosity for that. The truth is, in the name of the corridor, a massive BJP-led loot system has been set up. A few select BJP members are reaping the benefits while the local public is being cheated. The BJP lost the Lok Sabha seats in Ayodhya and Prayagraj; now the next two seats are those of Gorakhpur and Mathura..."
Yadav also highlighted other alleged scams, including the Sisodia Nursing Home and medical college, and raised concerns about a recent rape case involving a BJP associate.
"Their own advisor had to resign; no one knows who he was secretly dealing with. Many others are sitting quietly, involved in land grabs. And this land grabbing is happening just 800 meters away from our event site. This scam isn't just about land. There have been scams in Sisodia Nursing Home and the medical college too, where hundreds of children are still struggling for education and degrees. The Chief Minister has set a record for visiting his home district, where he holds public hearings. But we've heard a 17-year-old minor YouTuber was raped, and a close BJP associate was involved.", he claimed.
SP Yadav further said, "What happened during Hitler's time is happening now. He used to send his men in police uniforms, here, they don't send uniforms, but send their party symbols. When the Lucknow Expressway and Metro were built, farmers were given fair compensation, even the circle rates were increased. For the power station in old Lucknow, compensation was given as per market value. When our government comes to power, we'll build a development corridor in Gorakhpur. The biggest factory there is a contribution of the Samajwadis, started by Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav)."
Yadav also pointed out the encroachment of ponds in Lucknow, saying that many are no longer visible, as per satellite maps. Yadav made a snide remark stating, "Many ponds in Lucknow have been encroached upon. The ones visible in satellite maps until 2017 are no longer visible. To verify this, they may need to go all the way to America."