Power hike will keep industry, investors away: Akhilesh
Lucknow:
Samajwadi party
national president
Akhilesh Yadav
on Monday said there were reports that the BJP government was all set to hike the power tariff in the state and the move will further deter new industry and investments away from Uttar Pradesh.
"The BJP government has failed to set up a single new power production other than those installed during the Samajwadi Party government. They have failed to add a single unit of power to the production capacity of the state. Poor upkeep has left the infrastructure in shambles. Transformers are developing snags and people are rendered without power for days despite the rising summer temperatures," Akhilesh said, slamming the BJP government for deliberately ignoring the power sector to facilitate its privatisation.
"Now, there are reports that the government is planning to increase power tariff in rural as well as urban areas. This will only discourage new industry and investment from coming to UP. No new industry or investment will come to a state where cost of power is not cheaper (than other states)," Akhilesh said, talking to the media at party headquarters in Lucknow on Monday.
Responding to a media query over ban on fairs (Mela) in Bahraich, Ayodhya and Barabanki, Akhilesh said this was the result of BJP's divisive politics of hate.
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"These melas were being held for thousands of years," the SP chief said, adding that such events offer an opportunity to boost local economy in a small but effective way as locals gather to celebrate, spend on buying confectionery and enjoy joyrides. Akhilesh said such melas also help people to bond with each other and strengthen the cultural diversity that characterises our country.
"People from different walks of life come together and meet each other at these events and perhaps that is what the BJP's divisive politics of hate does not approve of," Akhilesh said.
How many from PDA recruited in police drive, asks ex-CM
Lucknow: Accusing the BJP government of targeting the PDA community comprising Pichhde (backward classes), Dalits and Alpsankhyak (minorities) for joining forces with the Samajwadi Party, former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav dared the BJP government in UP to come out with the PDA headcount in the latest police recruitment. He said the PDA was being neglected and snubbed by the BJP in all the government schemes.
"Let the BJP declare the count of individuals from the PDA who have been recruited in the police department," he said. Akhilesh's statement comes a day after the state government gave away appointment letters to over 60,000 individuals who have cleared the police constable recruitment drive.
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