Union MoS Anupriya Patel backs husband as he repeats allegations against UP STF

Anupriya, who is the Apna Dal (S) national president, held a meeting with party leaders in Lucknow as well.

Asked if he had spoken to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath regarding his issues, Ashish told reporters: “I have spoken where I had to.”

Alleging that there were other ministers “in a similar situation”, he said: “They are keeping silent due to some helplessness. But, I am not helpless.”

However, Ashish ruled out resigning, saying: “Those who quit are cowards. Let them dismiss me as minister. My leader is the Prime Minister, I will resign if he asks me to.”

Anupriya was asked if she would raise these issues at the national level, with the PM or other senior ministers such as Amit Shah. “Jo desh chala rahe hain, unko sab pata rehta hai (Those who run the country are aware of everything). Everybody knows everything. The party will not compromise on the dignity of its workers.”

Repeating Ashish’s claims that the allegations of corruption and irregularities in the UP Technical Education Department headed by him had been raised by Samajwadi Party MLA Pallavi Patel at somebody’s behest, Anupriya said: “Who is behind all this is known to each and every Apna Dal worker. And, if you have any misconception that you can conspire and hurt the image of an Apna Dal worker, you will be proved wrong. The Apna Dal knows how to get back.”

Raising the contentious recruitment of 69,000 teachers in turn, the Union Minister of State said the Apna Dal would keep talking about it “and those responsible for resolving the issue have to listen”. “We will keep raising issues related to the backwards and Dalits. Those conspiring against the Apna Dal will get a befitting reply. The Apna Dal is an ally of the NDA under the leadership of the Prime Minister,” Anupriya said.

Ashish said: “This alliance which began in 2014 will continue under the leadership of the Prime Minister.”

Again claiming that the STF may target him, Ashish, the Technical Education, Consumer Protection, Weights & Measures Minister in the Adityanath Cabinet, said the outfit is “known for shooting in the leg” (several encounters in UP in the recent past have included such injuries) and that, “if it has guts”, it should shoot him in the chest.

Ashish said that he expected “the conspiracy against him to intensify now”, but that he was not afraid, nor would be back off.

Pallavi is the estranged sister of Anupriya. Their father Sone Lal Patel founded the Apna Dal, with Anupriya taking charge of the party after his death. The sisters fell out over the alleged growing clout of Ashish, with their mother siding with Pallavi.