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Journalism of Courage
A day after Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav dismissed him as “chirkut (small fry)”, Uttar Pradesh Congress state president Ajay Rai told The Indian Express that Akhilesh was responsible for starting the current spat. Excerpts:
Despite differences, the Congress has avoided directly attacking the SP chief in the past. What has changed?
We did not start it. The Congress has always maintained decorum. None of our leaders ever spoke in such language [as used by Akhilesh]. But, it has become his habit. The entire country saw how he behaved with his father on the dais during the 2017 elections. How could he disrespect a tall leader like his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is respected across party lines? How could he be expected to behave differently with others?… Recently, he called the UP Deputy Chief Minister (Brajesh Pathak) a ‘servant’. Even during fights over politics or ideology, everyone maintains basic decorum, but he often forgets that.
You claim that Akhilesh’s own leaders and workers feel humiliated inside the SP.
I have said that his party leaders and workers must also feel humiliated because of his habit. I also say this based on the response of many leaders from his party who are in touch with us, some of whom have already joined us. He is not an uneducated person. He claims to be educated in a Sainik School and in Australia. Is this what he has learnt at these places?
The exchange of barbs is increasing by the day. Will it affect future tie-ups?
Decisions on tie-ups are taken by the party high command. But as far as the present situation is concerned, we believe our sanskar (culture) is our biggest treasure, and we value it. Even today, none of my fellow party leaders are indulging in loose talk. I have just stated facts, while maintaining decorum, and there is nothing wrong in that, as the entire world has witnessed these incidents.
Before speaking about my stature, he (Akhilesh) should have looked into my past. I was once the youngest MLAs in the UP Assembly. I have been elected five times to the Assembly. I have had the courage to challenge the PM candidate (Narendra Modi) twice.
Akhilesh says only those who participated in the INDIA alliance talks should speak. Will the Congress leadership or the Gandhis now talk to him to break the deadlock?
I have the courage to challenge and mount direct attacks on Narendra Modi. Has he ever taken the names of Modi or Amit Shah in his speeches? How can someone who is afraid to even take their names fight the BJP? Regarding the Gandhi family talking to him, he should first raise his stature to the level of the Gandhis by showing a big heart before being considered on a par. Many had to look for the meaning of ‘chirkut’, such is the kind of unparliamentary language he used. Given his foul mouth, many are already leaving him, while others are planning to leave.
