Mulayam blames Congress for weavers plight

Lucknow, Apr 29 (UNI) Flaying the Congress for neglecting the interests of the weaver community, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today said the party which has long been in power at Centre was to be blamed solely for the plight of Muslims, especially weavers.

''The Congress has always used the Muslims, particularly the weaver community for its vested interests and now it is also questioning the nationalistic fervour of the minority community,'' Mr Yadav said while addressing the Weavers Congress at the Ganna Sansthan here.

Lambasting the Centre on hike in prices of essential commodities and raging controversy over the import of wheat, Mr Yadav said the UPA government has failed to address all public problems.

''The Centre should be blamed be for importing wheat, as people of the country will now be forced to consume the inferior quality staple foodgrain produced in other nations, despite better quality wheat being in abundance at affordable rates within our own country,'' he added.

Raking up the ''international conspiracy'' against Muslims, the Samajwadi Party supremo questioned how did the Congress government invite US President George Bush to India, when he took ''devastating'' action in Afghanistan and Iraq in the name of punishing Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussain.

''It is unfortunate that certain political parties are doubting nationalism and integrity of the Muslims who also have sacricified their lives for the country,'' he said.

Reiterating his committment for Muslims, Mr Yadav said ''I have never cared for votes, but did whatever I felt good for the community.'' ''Mulayam Singh sirf apaka sevek hai (Mulayam Singh is only your servant).'' Narrating his government's pro-Muslim stand, the CM said for the first time in the history of UP, a Muslim was appointed Advocate General of the state.

He also announced that the government had distributed compensation worth over Rs 7 crore among people affected by November last Mau riots. The communaly sensitive town has over 50,000 powerloom units.

UNI MB ARS VJ KN1447