Sonia's resignation mere pretence: Mulayam

Gorakhpur, Mar 23 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today termed Congress president Sonia Gandhi's resignation as a member of the Lok Sabha as well as the National Advisory Council (NAC) Chairperson ''pretence.'' ''Ms Gandhi is merely trying to save her skin,'' Yadav said here addressing an election rally in wake of the forthcoming assembly bypolls to Kaudiram constituency on March 25.

SP has fielded Rambhuwal Nishad for the contest.

Claiming that the centre was targetting his government, the CM said it was the reason why the Rajya Sabha membership of cine star Jaya Bachchan was cancelled.

''A similar move is on against SP leaders Amar Singh and Mohd Azam Khan,'' Yadav claimed.

He lamented that the central government was not only targetting SP leaders, but also its well wishers including leading industrialist Anil Ambani, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and Sahara India chief Subrata Roy.

On the occasion, the CM listed the achievements of his government even as he charged the centre with trying to create hurdles in the path of UP's development.

''Our state is steadily moving ahead even without much help from the UPA government,'' he maintained.

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