Addressing reporters at the party headquarters here, Yadav said, “The Samajwadi Party never breaks alliances. When the Samajwadi Party agrees to move forward with others, it stands by them, and we have always honoured our commitments.”
He said the party’s objective is to form a government committed to social justice based on socialist ideology and solidarity with the ‘PDA’ — ‘pichhda’ (backward classes), Dalit and ‘alpsankhyak’ (minorities).
“They are scared of the PDA, that is why they are trying to misrepresent the PDA. The greater the suffering, the stronger the PDA will become,” Yadav said.
On inflation, the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief said essential commodities have become expensive, particularly with festivals approaching.
“Everything is becoming expensive today. Diesel, petrol, everything,” he said, adding that the government should explain why sugar prices were rising.
Questioning the use of sugarcane for ethanol production, he said, “They are mixing ethanol in petrol for profit, and also hiking sugar prices to maximise their gains. The question is: whose pocket is this money going into?”The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also questioned the government’s claim of rising per capita income, saying around 15 crore people are still being provided subsidised rations. “What is the per capita income of these 15 crore people?”
He further alleged that primary education in Uttar Pradesh was being deliberately weakened and recalled initiatives undertaken by his government to improve infrastructure and teaching standards in primary schools.
Yadav said children from disadvantaged communities form a large proportion of students in government primary schools, asserting that when SP assumes power, it would improve such schools and ensure provision of nutritious meals for children.
Yadav accused the BJP government of widespread injustice and alleged discrimination against members of various communities.
On financial assistance schemes for women, he said the SP had earlier announced yearly assistance of Rs 40,000 and claimed the BJP is now making similar promises.
Yadav went on to say that speaking truth had become difficult, alleging that journalists are under significant pressure under BJP rule.
“Speaking the truth is wrong these days. If you speak the truth, you will be attacked. It has become difficult to speak the truth,” he said.
On being asked about defections by MPs from various parties, Yadav said “dynastic politics” could sometimes work to a party’s advantage, referring to the presence of several members of a family among Samajwadi Party MPs.
“Have you ever wondered why the entire party did not split? Because there are five MPs from the same family. We also have several Muslim MPs, and some staunch socialists, so our numbers would not decrease,” he said.
“Sometimes dynastic politics has its benefits,” Yadav said with a laugh.
