Mulayam slams Sonia's remarks, calls for socialists' unity

New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) Returning Congress president Sonia Gandhi's frontal attack on the ''corruption'' in his government, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav today said the Congressmen had done nothing except filling their coffers during the last 46 years of the party's rule.

Mr Yadav called upon all socialists to come at one platform to get rid of the Congress ''misrule''.

''Ms Gandhi does not know the reality and she is being misled by flatterers,'' he said talking to reporters here after a function.

Addressing a 'Nav Nirman' rally in Bareilly in western Uttar Pradesh yesterday, Ms Gandhi had given a call for 'jail bharo' against what she termed 'jeb bharo' policy of the ruling dispensation in Uttar Pradesh. She had said women, farmers and dalits were not safe in the state as criminals were having a field day(Yahan apradhion ka bol bal hai...) The Uttar Pradesh chief minister took strong exception to her remarks and advised her to exercise control over herself.

He said his state was doing very well on the developmental front and it had been awarded by President APJ Abdul Kalam for it.

''This state is not among those listed for poor law and order situation; this is not even among 10 states which are backward, so those who are talking about corruption and lawlessness, do not know anything but read out only what has been written for them,'' he said.

When asked about formation of a third front and his meeting with former Union Minister George Fernandes, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister replied his relations with the socialist leader were 40 years old, and added that he wanted that all those believing in socialist ideology should join hands.

Mr Yadav had come here to inaugurate an exhibition of handicraft produced by women of Bhadohi district of his state. It had been organised by Dastkari Haat Samiti and the Gandhi Craft Foundation.

He said his government would soon take decisions for ensuring adequate price to craftpersons and providing them financial assistance.

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