Arjun should be jailed over quota issue: Mulayam

Lucknow, May 26: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today said Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh should be jailed for raking up the reservation issue during the Assembly Elections in four states.

''Mr Singh should be in jail for trying to derive political mileage out of the reservation issue,'' he said here.

Addressing the conclave of SP Mahila Sabha, Mr Yadav said Uttar Pradesh was the first state to introduce 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in higher education way back in 1994.

The Chief Minister criticised the Centre for implementing the reservation in phases and also increasing the number of seats to accommodate reservation policy.

''Can reservation be implemented in phases,'' he said, adding the quota should be fixed on the total number of seats including the additional seats.

He said Mr Singh should be lodged in jail for raking up the reservation issue to influence voters in favour of the Congress.

''When the Election Commission (EC) can order FIR against Shivpal Singh Yadav for merely announcing development works in Rae Bareli, then Mr Singh should be in jail for his comment,'' Mr Yadav said.

Without naming suspended SP leader Raj Babbar, Mr Yadav hit out at politicians, who had joined the cinestar's bandwagon against him.

''These forces have announced a farmers rally on May 30, which will certainly be rejected by the community, as they are the happiest lot in the present regime,''he said.

The SP supremo said politicians, who had formed a Morcha (front) against him, were bereft of any ideology or policy.

Criticising the Congress government for targeting Jaya Bachchan, Mr Yadav said it was she who sacrificed. ''If the Congress wanted, they could have saved her Rajya Sabha membership, but they did not do so.'' He urged the women activities of his party to get involved in the election process.

About sops given to girls in the state, he said Rs 1,100 crore had been alloted for the ambitious 'Kanya Vidyadhan Yojna', where each class 12 passed girl is given Rs 20,000 for higher studies.

Commenting on the power crisis in the state, Mr Yadav claimed such crisis existed in Delhi and Mumbai also.

''The situation will improve within a week,'' he added.

He criticised the Centre for imposing a fine on Uttar Pradesh over withdrawal of excess power from the Northern Grid. ''It is unfortunate that the Centre is imposing fine on us, while we try to end the power crisis,'' Mr Yadav said.

UNI

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