‘Innocent’ Akhilesh dodges Opposition attack over law and order

Maurya had termed the situation in the state as total anarchy under the rule of a “nadaan” chief minister, due to which even dogs are biting children, and lions and tigers have left forests and are roaming in the city.

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Akhilesh responded by stating that he had launched the Lion Safari in Etawah where they will be kept and even an elephant rescue centre is in pipeline at Etawah, where BSP’s poll symbol will rest while people stay safe.

To Maurya’s claim that officials are worried about frequent transfers in Akhilesh’s poor governance, and are throwing orders of CM and ministers in the dustbin, Akhilesh responded by stating that he had utilised officials judiciously unlike the previous BSP rule where juniors superseded their seniors.

“We only encouraged those officials who were let down during your rule. People in the CM residence told me that they were made to take off their shoes while entering. If everything was so fine in your rule, just ponder why were you ousted,” he said.

Maurya also poetically hit out at the government’s practice of importing officials from other states. “These officials are just enjoying their posts and bringing a bad name to your government. People are singing: Tum tou thehrey pardesi, loot kar chale jaoge,” he said.

Maurya also cited the example of the ATM loot case in Lucknow which is headed by a Maharashtra cadre IPS Yashasvi Yadav, which has not been cracked despite the CM’s 15-day deadline. He also said that 225 policemen have lost their lives after being attacked by criminals and questioned the security on court premises.

Alleging a secret agreement between the Samajwadi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party for instigating riots in the state, he claimed that officials close to the CM are taking advantage of his innocence. “Beware of people sitting next to you,” he said.

Akhilesh replied that some criminal cases take time to work out but things are going in the right direction. He defended himself by mentioning cases of murder of doctors, engineers, torching of Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s house and NRHM scam in which BSP members were involved.

Akhilesh also claimed that by next year, the UP police will have the best infrastructure.  The CM ended his debate with Maurya by stating: “You are a good person but at wrong place. You cannot even deny this…” Later, the Assembly was adjourned sine die after passing the annual Budget.