Mulayam to bring all socialists on common platform

Lucknow, Oct 12: Samajwadi Party supremo and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today said he would make all effort to bring all socialist leaders on a common platform for promoting the ''ideologies of Lohia and JP.'' ''It is time to unite for a struggle against the effort of the Central government to make the country a slave of the Western countries again,'' he said.

Addressing a function on the occasion of 38th death anniversary of socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia, Mr Yadav said a country-level 'satyagrah' was required to change the system and to protect the country from another spell of slavery.

Appealing all socialists to unite for a greater cause of the country, he said there would be no dispute over the leadership as anyone could lead the group.

Criticising the Congress-led UPA government for its failure in foreign affairs, the UP CM said there was no concrete policy to deal with foreign matters. He also lambasted the Centre for targetting the non-Congress states where development work is going on full-speed.

''India needs the foreign policy advocated by Lohia, which was implemented by our first Prime Minsiter Jawaharlal Nehru, but today there is no policy as such,'' he alleged.

Claiming the centre lacks any ideology, he said they are only interested in targetting the states and block their developmental works.

''Congress should wean away from criticising the UP government policy of Kanya Vidyadhan and unemployement allowance as now the government of Uttaranchal is keen to adopt both the schemes,'' he claimed.

Former defence minister and NDA convenor George Fernandes, who was present on the occasion, said a better training of socialist youth was required to launch a struggle to change the present system.

Appreciating Mr Yadav for sticking to the socialist ideology, Mr Fernandes said UP is the only state in the country where socialist leaders are being given due respect.

RSP leader Abani Roy said a joint action by the Left and Socialist groups was required to change the system.

Vidhan Sabha speaker Mata Prasad Pandey and former minister Beni Prasad Verma were among others who addressed the gathering.

UNI