Akhilesh defends fielding ‘strong’ candidate Atiq

The CM,however,maintained that Ahmed “may be a bahubali,he is not above law”. The candidate from Sultanpur had,on Sunday,taken out a procession in which his supporters,in a show of strength,were reportedly seen flaunting firearms.

Akhilesh said “the matter will be looked into”. “The party will maintain discipline.”

The state government has been criticised for failing to provide the riot victims with appropriate relief help,which,in the CM’s view,were “timely” and ranged from “medical relief to woolen clothes to cash relief”,with the latter given “to those who do not want to return to their villages”.

“A committee,too,has been set up to probe into the deaths of children in the relief camps,” he said,adding that “while most have left the camps,a few of them have returned”.

Also,the work done by the officials in implementing the development agenda of the state government earned appreciation from the chief minister who said that while that is being taken care of,his party’s job “will be to defeat communal forces”.

The state government’s 203-point agenda,covering various schemes from different departments,was released on August 17. On Monday,the Public Works Department,Power,Medical Education and Industrial Development gave details of the achievement works undertaken by them.

The CM also took the opportunity to attack BSP chief Mayawati. “We have sanctioned railway overbridge. Some people took extra interest in getting it stalled by delaying clearances,” he said,while referring to the portion of the overbridge being constructed in Mall Avenue,close to Mayawati’s bungalow. He also suggested that this should be raised before Mayawati during her birthday function.

Meanwhile,the PWD introduced its policy on maintenance of rural roads,and power department highlighted that all urban areas will get 24 hours power supply and rural areas will receive 16 hours of power supply by 2016-17.

Industrial development department highlighted the freight corridor and Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor’s early bird schemes.

Though information about achievements of minority welfare department was provided,it was not taken up. “We will take it up some other day,” the CM said.