Mulayam hits out at BJP, Congress

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav sought to maintain a safe distance from both the BJP and the Congress yesterday, coming down heavily against the two parties in a carefully-worded statement.

Addressing a public meeting in Shamsabad yesterday in support of his party candidate from the area, Mulayam criticised the BJP for not raising the Ayodhya issue while it was in power. He said that the saffron party was only using the temple issue for political gains and that he won’t budge from his stand on the issue. The Chief Minister also accused the BJP of hiding its ‘‘real manifesto’’ from the people. Charging the party with deceiving the people of the country, he said that the BJP has prepared two manifestos, one with which to rule the country and the other which was aimed at deceiving the voters.

Not sparing the Congress in his attack, Mulayam openly challenged the party to withdraw support to his government. He said that even if the Congress decides to withdraw its support in future, his government will survive.

Mulayam also said that the BJP and the Congress’ efforts to topple his government would only backfire as the Samajwadi Party would come back with full force.