The second anniversary celebrations of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav’s government in Lucknow seems to have dampened by criticism from a key ally, Ajit Singh, the chief of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). The criticism comes close on the heels of the Congress’ attack on the Samajwadi Party-led government.Ajit Singh has criticised the state government for nepotism, for packing key state co-operative bodies with government and party-affiliated members. Singh has also accused the CM of not adhering to ethics related to the election and selection process in the co-operative sector.In a letter to the CM, Singh says, “It is imperative to begin with co-operative reforms, so as to make the federal organisation at various levels more responsive and more responsible towards their members, to minimise government control and interference to enable co-operators and co-operatives develop self-reliance and self-confidence and to eliminate politicisation (of co-ops)”.Nine key co-operative bodies are headed by SP MLAs and even Mulayam Singh Yadav’s family members, apart from being dominated by the Yadavs. The UP Co-operative Rural Development Bank is headed by Shiv Pal Yadav, PWD Minister and Mulayam’s brother. Shiv Pal Yadav has also been appointed Chairperson of District Co-Operative Bank, Etawah. The UP Co-operative Bank is headed by Dharmendra Yadav, Lok Sabha MP from Mainpuri, the UP Cold Storage Co-Op Federation is headed by Jai Prakash Yadav, the UP Co-Op Potato Federation is headed by Ram Sevak Singh Yadav, UP Co-Op Federation Chairman is Chotte Singh Yadav, a former MP, UP Co-op Oilseed Federation Chairman is Amit Kumar Tripathi. Singh has also accused the state government of refusing to adopt the recommendations of the Chaudhury Brahm Prakash report, which looked into the co-operative reforms.SP leader Amar Singh says, “The RLD is an important partner, and it’s well within its rights to give us suggestions.”CM pats his backOn completing second anniversary of his government in UP, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav patted his back for bringing “drastic development” and converting UP into “Uttam Pradesh”. Asking journalists to share with him his achievements, he, however, snubbed those who confronted him on issues like murder of Congress leader Satish Shukla in Etah.
