Yogi minister and Apna Dal ally claims threat to life from Uttar Pradesh STF

Denying the “baseless” allegations, Ashish has claimed a lineage to Sardar Patel, as well as claimed an anti-OBC agenda.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Ashish said: “I have said that the Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) may get a CBI probe done into all the decisions taken by me… I do not fear anybody or any consequences, but I am facing a threat from the STF. I will speak on the whole issue tomorrow.”

Ashish added that Pallavi was acting at someone’s behest. “I am well aware of those behind her and who is pulling her strings.” He also claimed that at Pallavi’s dharna during the Assembly session on the matter, two people had been allowed with her, despite House premises being out of bounds for “outsiders”.

On Wednesday, Pallavi met UP Governor Anandiben Patel seeking her intervention for a probe into the alleged irregularities and corruption in the Technical Education Department.

Ashish also put out a post on Facebook Tuesday denying the charges made by Pallavi. “The most honest IAS officer and current Principal Secretary, Technical Education, M Deoraj headed the departmental promotion committee and promotions were done on (the) committee’s recommendation and consent taken from the top. But, still a media trial is going on for political character assassination. If the departmental promotions are not done fairly, the Information Department should give (a) clarification in this regard,” he wrote.

In the post, Ashish said the CM could also probe all the decisions taken by him as a minister, as well as his and his wife Anupriya’s assets since she became an MP and he an MLC.

Ashish linked the allegations to the fact that the Apna Dal was a representative of the Kurmis. Some people did not like benefits going to OBCs and deprived sections, he said in the post, attaching the names of those promoted as “proof”.

He added: “Descendant of Iron man Sardar Patel – Ashish Patel – is not among those who fear, but one who fights. I also want to tell my well wishers that the Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh Police will be responsible if any conspiracy / incident happens to me in this fight for social justice.”

Pallavi told The Indian Express that she stood by the “valid issue” raised by her. Adding that the 250 lecturers promoted within the Technical Education Department are B.Tech degree holders, she said: “As per the norms of the AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education), only those lecturers with M.Tech degree and experience of 15 years and those with Ph.D degree and 12 years’ experience are eligible to be promoted to the post of HoDs. Besides, these promotions should be done by the UP Public Service Commission and not by the department.”

While the process was completed in May, the list came out only in December, Pallavi said, adding that at her meeting with the Governor Wednesday, she had “handed over all the relevant documents”. “I am demanding cancellation of the current list of promotions.”

On Ashish’s allegations that she was acting on somebody’s orders and that the STF may target him, Pallavi said: “BJP MLA Meenakshi Singh and former BJP MP Kaushal Kishore had raised this issue and sent letters to the government alleging irregularities in promotions even before I did.”

Reached by The Indian Express, Kishore said he “could not remember” sending a letter like this, and “in what context”. Singh did not get back with a response.

BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said: “I am not aware of the whole issue. But, Ashish Patel ji is a minister and has access to the Chief Minister. He can raise his issues with the CM and with the BJP state president.”

The Apna Dal, which has 13 MLAs in the Assembly, was formed by Anupriya and Pallavi’s father Sone Lal Patel. After his death, the mantle of the party passed on to Anupriya. Pallavi and their mother later parted ways with Anupriya, allegedly due to the growing clout of Ashish, and floated another faction called the Apna Dal (Kamerawadi). The faction led by Anupriya called itself the Apna Dal (Soneylal).