CM Akhilesh Yadav like Duryodhan but Shivpal like Hanuman: QED leader Afzal Ansari

[related-post]

Watch Video: What’s making news

Calling him an “arrogant CM”, Afzal said Akhilesh opposed the merger for “his own branding as a person with a clean image”. Afzal reiterated his claim that SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had backed the merger.

Referring to the Mahabharat, he compared Akhilesh to Duryodhan, adding that since Mulayam was old and unwell, he was being dominated by his son. On the other hand, he said Shivpal was like Hanuman, who always followed his brother Mulayam’s instructions, like a true bhakt of Ram.

Claiming that both Mulayam and Shivpal were upset over the issue, he said Akhilesh was sidelining his uncle.

Afzal said it was the SP that initiated talks with the QED, through former minister Ambika Chaudhary, seeking support in the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections.

“Later, senior minister Balram Yadav came to meet me at my residence in Lucknow and facilitated talks with Shivpal Yadav. QED accepted the proposal and Shivpal met me on June 10,” he claimed.

He said Mulayam then called him to his residence, where he said the BJP won the Lok Sabha elections in eastern UP because the votes were divided between SP and QED. “Mulayam said it was necessary to ensure that votes are not divided in 2017 polls. To stop communal forces from coming to power, Mulayam made the merger offer,” said Afzal.

He said Mulayam later changed his decision at his party’s parliamentary board meeting due to pressure from Akhilesh. “It was clear that neither was Mulayam aware about the opinion of his son, nor does Akhilesh respect his father’s decisions,” said Afzal.

Stating that the SP had “cheated” the QED, after taking its support in the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council polls, he threatened to “teach a lesson” to Akhilesh in the assembly polls.

“Mukhtar is a descendent of Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, who was president of the All India Congress Committee in 1926… Mukhtar’s maternal grandfather, Brigadier Usman Ansari, fought against Pakistan and received the Mahavir Chakra,” said Afzal.

Accusing both the SP and BSP of “using” Mukhtar, he said: “Sometimes they call him maseeha and sometimes they call him mafia. But Mukhtar is not dependent on any symbol, he wins elections on his own. I too have defeated SP candidates in four elections,” said Afzal.

“We will try to join hands with smaller parties with similar ideology. We will teach a lesson to the arrogant CM who has not fulfilled his promises,” he said, adding that the QED would hold its convention in Ghazipur district on July 8 to plan its future strategy.