What is there to learn from Arvind Kejriwal, asks Akhilesh Yadav

Manmohan Rai, ET Bureau Jan 1, 2014, 06.39AM IST
("What is there to learn from…)

Akhilesh Yadav is dismissive of Narendra Modi's recent blog, in which his Gujarat counterpart expressed pain and agony at the 2002 riots in Gujarat, and says the SP will contest the 2014 elections on the twin planks of stopping communal forces and pursuing a development agenda. In an interview with ET's Man Mohan Rai conducted on board the state's Hawker 900 XP plane, Yadav blames the Modi-led BJP for the Muzaffarnagar riots, makes light of the AAP threat and defends SP's decision to offer a ticket to mafia dons. Seated next to his son, party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav warns the CM to be careful of scheming bureaucrats and tells ET that the SP was no longer supporting the UPA and "it should go now".

There has been a spate of communal riots since you took over as CM...

You must be aware that there was a largescale conspiracy to communalise the atmosphere. There was a concerted attempt to divide people and create riots. BJP leaders circulated a fake video to fan violence. Bulk SMSs were sent to create rumours. Social media was used to spread misinformation and raise tensions between communities.

Why did your government allow the riots to go on for days in Muzaffarnagar?

If there is an incident, the law takes its course. The government takes action. We did so immediately and came down heavily on those who were behind the riots. BJP MLAs and some from the BSP were arrested. It started when 50,000 people gathered at the village (Nangla Mandaud). It was the government's responsibility to ensure that they returned home safely. The government did ensure it and people returned safely.

However, relief camps are running in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli even three months after the riots.

We are looking into it and ensuring that people return. Most have already returned and only a few remain. There are some people who want to take political advantage. Politicians of different parties are visiting the area and camps. I told them to give us some suggestions. But they have nothing to suggest. We want to send those at these camps back.

Everyone wants to send them home. But the media is raking it up. TV news channels are doing half-hour shows. I also want to know what suggestions they have.

Politicians are saying blankets are not there, children are falling sick. I say it is alright that you are pointing out the problems, but please also offer some solutions. My government has given blankets, clothes, food, milk for children and old, medicines and doctors, and provided compensation. Some NGOs and madarsas have also provided aid and warm clothes.

Yet, haven't dozens of children died of cold?

We are looking into it. All facilities are available at the camps. We have also sent some of the ailing to hospitals. Some children did not die in the camps but elsewhere. There is also some misinformation being floated around. Some camps are virtually empty as almost all of those who were living there have returned to their homes safely.

We have also said the camps will be shifted to permanent government buildings, which will offer more protection from the winter chill. Some government buildings adjacent to existing relief camps have been identified and people are being shifted to them.

Do you think Rahul Gandhi is trying to politicise it?

We do not want to say anything about Congress leaders or, in fact, anybody else going there. I also ask him (Gandhi) for suggestions. He has visited the area twice and met people, so he must be aware of the problems and should now offer some solutions. Whatever people there want, will be done. Any legitimate demand will be met immediately. But he offer solutions.


RJD chief Lalu Prasad, too, visited Muzaffarnagar...

He called me on my mobile from Muzaffarnagar itself. I attended to his call, leaving everything else. I listened to his suggestions as he is a senior leader.

Are the 2014 polls increasingly being centred around the secular-non-secular divide?

Some people are known to take a hard line and are trying to divide the society. The SP will continue to fight them.

Do you think Narendra Modi is trying to make himself more acceptable to Muslims?

No secular person will believe him. He represents the communal face. What he says on blogs, social media or traditional media does not matter much. His words cannot be trusted and there is a vast secular section of society in this country that will not listen to such communal people.

What will be your poll plank for the upcoming general elections?

Stopping communal forces and development will be our plank. Our priority is to strengthen secular forces. Development agenda will be pursued continuously.

Your move to deny ticket to DP Yadav in 2012 had caught the imagination of the people. But now you have given a ticket to a mafia don like Atiq Ahmed.