Dangal vs Vichar goshti: Akhilesh Yadav’s SP and Shivpal’s outfit gear up to celebrate Mulayam’s birthday

On Wednesday, the SP said Mulayam’s birthday must not be “projected as a competition”. “We celebrate the birthday of netaji every year in a simple manner. This year, we will be organising ‘Vichar goshthi’ in every district apart from the celebrations. What we do not understand is why his birthday is being projected as a competition. It should not be made a political issue,” said senior SP leader and spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary.

Deepak Mishra, the PSP-L spokesperson, said, “The party has decided to mark the birthday of netaji as ‘Dharma Nirpeksha Divas’ or ‘Secular Day’. While there will be a seminar at the party office on secularism and socialism, a ‘dangal’ will be organised in Etawah.”
District units of the newly-formed outfit have been instructed by its general secretary Aditya Yadav to distribute fruits and clothes to poor and also organise cultural events.

Mishra said that since Mulayam has always been interested in local sports, an invitation has been extended to him for the ‘dangal’, which will also be attended by Shivpal. “Humein puri umeed hai ki netaji dangal mein jaroor aayenge (We believe netaji will definitely come for the ‘dangal’),” he added.

At a press conference Tuesday, Shivpal had said that he was ready to be part of grand alliance of opposition parties as long as his outfit gets 50 per cent of the votes. He had also asked why the parties were delaying its formation, asking whether they “fear the CBI”.

On October 30, Mulayam had made a sudden appearance at the 6, Lal Bahadur Shashtri Marg office of PSP-L, where he attended a workers’ meeting and addressed them. The same day, he had visited the SP office, where he had given party workers tips on fighting the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.