Mulayam attacks Guv; plans ''prolonged'' gherao of Raj Bhawan

Meerut, UP, Nov 3 (UNI) Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav today asked his party workers to prepare for a 'prolonged gherao' of Raj Bhawan and blamed the governor of conspiring against the party on one hand and helping Chief Minister Mayawati in the Taj Corridor scam on the other.

Delivering the concluding address at the end of three-day state convention here, Mr Yadav charged Governor T V Rajeswar with turning a blind eye on the poor law and order in the state during the Mayawati government.

'' When the SP was in power, the Governor used to write letters to the Union Home Ministry on the poor law and order situation in the state, the Governor used to point out one flaw or the other in day-to-day governance. Now he is silent on the issue of law and order,'' he pointed out.

During his regime in Uttar Pradesh Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav was consistently at the oggers head with the Raj Bhawan and their relations remained sour all through.

He also charged the Governor with shielding the BSP president from CBI probe into the multi-crore Taj Heritage Corridor Scam. ''He refused a go ahead to the CBI to file a charge-sheet against her,'' he reminded the audience.

While not giving out a clear date on the proposed agitation against the Governor, Mr Yadav asked partymen to 'gherao' Raj Bhawan on a division-wise basis. ''This will prolong our agitation against the Raj Bhawan,'' he said. Division wise action committees are likely to be formed to plan the agitation.

Explaining the details, the former CM said party workers from the 17 divisions of the state would reach the state capital by taking turns to lay blockade of governor's house. ''The police could stop you in trains and buses. You could be arrested in your homes ahead of the agitation but prepare yourself for a bitter and prolonged battle,'' he said.

Mr Yadav also used the opportunity to target BJP, BSP and Congress by claiming that the three have joined hands to take on the SP. ''Now their only aim is to target SP, but we will not take it lying down,'' he added.

Terming the Congress as a party of slaves (Ghulamo ki party), he said the AICC president, who is also the chairperson of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), had awarded Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi with an excellence award.

The former Defence Minister claimed that the policies of the central government were aimed at turning 'Bharat' of 105 crore people into 'India' of 35 crore people. ''Vested interests are targeting our culture and values and the government is allowing that to happen,'' he added.

Speaking on the occasion, SP national vice president Janeshwar Mishra asked Mr Yadav to ensure against indiscipline in the party.

''Ensure that the BSP government is toppled by next Deepawali,'' he said.

In his address, Mr Yadav's son and in charge of SP's youth wing Akhilesh Yadav slammed the Mayawati government for banning student union elections. Like several other leaders, he too lamented the internal bickering in the party.

UNI