Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 27 : Expelled Samajwadi Party MLA Pooja Pal on Wednesday lambasted the party and accused its women leaders of making derogatory comments about her personal life to "increase their numbers" in front of the party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
The expelled SP MLA said that the criticism only reflected their "lack of self-respect" and questioned their understanding of women's dignity. She also added that her family background had never allowed her to engage in such politics.
While speaking to ANI, Pooja Pal said, "The way women of the Samajwadi Party are criticising another woman, I feel pity for their thinking... They lack self-respect, so how can they respect others?.. To increase their numbers in front of Akhilesh, comments are being made about my personal life... Before setting up PDA Pathshala, they should go to school themselves and learn how to respect a woman. My family members have not taught me to do such cheap things that I should talk like them..."
The former MLA said that she had written to the government and the Director General of Police (DGP) and action would be taken against any misleading or incorrect statements made about me
"Day by day, people are saying anything about me to increase their numbers. So I have written to the government and DGP. Cognisance will be taken of this, and action should be taken against any misleading or incorrect statements made about me. I demand this from the DGP," Pal further added.
Reacting to allegations against her late husband, Raju Pal, the expelled SP MLA Pooja Pal denied the allegations against her late husband and said her husband never worked for Atiq Ahmed. He worked for the village where he was born.
"As far as I know, Raju Pal never worked for Atiq Ahmed. He worked for the village where he was born. When Atiq Ahmed's henchmen used to come to that village, Raju Pal would protect the land of the people in his locality from them. Atiq Ahmed did not like this... Atiq Ahmed asked his men to bring Raju Pal to meet him. In my 20.5-year political career, I have never received a letter stating that Raju Pal had usurped someone's land or committed fraud. On the behest of Atiq Ahmed, the administration filed 8 to 9 cases against Raju Pal. However, even after that, Raju Pal still did not agree to meet Atiq Ahmed, as Raju Pal was not afraid. So, after this, Atiq got cases of gangster and history sheeter filed against Raju Pal... The baseless things being said about Raju Pal are being said only to tarnish his image," Pal told ANI.
The remarks came after Samajwadi Party MLA from Chail, Pooja Pal, was expelled from the Samajwadi Party after she praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his "zero tolerance policy" against crime.
On Sunday, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed scepticism over expelled MLA Pooja Pal's claims of "life threats," saying the matter raises serious concerns and needs an impartial investigation.
Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav said, "It is hard to understand that someone is meeting the CM and having their life threatened by a leader of another party. I cannot comprehend this..."
Pal, who was expelled from the party earlier this month, had written to Yadav on Saturday, stating that if anything happens to her, the Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav should be "held responsible."
Earlier, while speaking in the UP Assembly, Pooja Pal, whose husband Raju Pal was shot dead by Atiq Ahmed and his associate, thanked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the zero-tolerance policy against crime that improved law and order in the state.
The SP MLA said that the UP CM gave her justice by bringing in policies like zero tolerance that led to the killing of criminals like Atiq Ahmed.
Speaking at the Assembly's 24-hour marathon discussion on 'Vision Document 2047,' Pooja Pal said, "Everyone knows who murdered my husband (Raju Pal). I want to thank the Chief Minister for bringing me justice and hearing me when nobody else did. The CM gave justice to many other women like me in Prayagraj by bringing in policies like zero tolerance that led to the killing of criminals like Atiq Ahmed. Today, the entire state looks at the CM with trust," she said.
Praising CM Yogi, she said, "Mere pati ke hatyare Atiq Ahmed ko Mukhya Mantri ne mitti mein milaane ka kaam kiya' (The Chief Minister has buried my husband's murderer Atiq Ahmed." She further added," I raised my voice when I saw that no one wanted to fight against criminals like Atiq Ahmed. When I started getting exhausted with this fight, CM Yogi Adityanath gave me justice."
BSP MLA Raju Pal was shot dead in Prayagraj in 2005, days after his wedding with Pooja Pal. In February 2023, Umesh Pal, a key witness to the murder, was shot dead in Prayagraj's Sulem Saray area.
Several rounds were fired, and bombs were hurled at Umesh and his gunners. Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf Ahmad were the prime accused and were arrested by the police. On April 15, 2023, they were shot dead by men posing as press persons on the night of April 15 while being taken for a medical examination in Prayagraj.