It’s now Babbar’s turn to go on Amar offensive

Mishra’s ticking off seems mild compared to Babbar’s choice of words, when he spoke exclusively to The Indian Express, ‘‘It is time our ‘Dharti Putra’ Mulayam Singh Yadav decides whether he wants to impose ‘middleman culture’ on society or revive serious issues of development and uplift of the poor and downtrodden. Mulayam Singh will have to answer how a small broker/fixer who lived on small brokerage, was given a chance to make so much money…it is this corporate middleman culture which now dominates the party.’’

Babbar says he is only carrying the flag raised by his mentor ‘‘Mishraji’’ as it is time the party was saved and wrested from such people. ‘‘Amar Singh has often said he is on sale and his price is nothing less than Rs 5 crore. Do you expect me to accept somebody who says this as the leadership of the party?’’ he asks. ‘‘I have raised the issue several times in the past two years with Mulayam Singh, as to where this party is headed—corporate socialising or Lohia Socialism—but I have not got any answer… This is leading to criminalisation of politics as money does not buy people’s votes but criminals and vested interests. It has to stop,’’ the former Jan Morcha leader—Babbar had joined VP Singh in 1987—says.

He says he will travel all over UP and the country to bring the debate to the public.

‘‘People must decide whether they want brokers who look after the interests of the rich, or leaders who look after the downtrodden,’’ says Babbar. ‘‘I did this 20 years ago when I joined VP Singh and started a Vikalp Manch. I will do it again.’’ Babbar also says he is not afraid of any disciplinary action from the party as he is only raising issues and not attacking people.

‘‘Let us not personalise the issue. I am only asking if it is not time to reject this…atmosphere and get back to the business of helping the poor and downtrodden,’’ Babbar says.