People dying in UP, CM enjoying abroad: BJP

Lucknow, Jan 15: BJP today attacked Akhilesh Yadav for "holidaying abroad" along with his family, saying when poor people were dying due to cold and in hooch tragedy Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister was enjoying in a foreign country.

Terming Yadav's foreign visit as mockery of the death of poor and helpless people, when he was supposed to take command of the relief work, the saffron party said,"this is childishness and inability of the CM to run the government."

But ruling Samajwadi Party refuted the charges and said BJP was raising this issue as there were no issues left for them and it shows their frustration. It said the Chief Minister was in constant touch with officials and giving necessary instructions.

"Due to laxity of the Excise department, which is held by the Chief Minister himself, more than 40 persons died in Lucknow and Unnao. Besides, a number of people are dying due to cold every day but instead of being here he is enjoying abroad," BJP spokesman Chandra Mohan said in a statement here.

He alleged that instead of taking command of the relief works Yadav along with his family has gone to a foreign country for holiday. "This is mockery of the death of poor and helpless people. This is childishness and inability of the CM to run the government," he alleged.

Chandra Mohan alleged that instead of consoling the kin of those killed in hooch tragedy, the CM gave priority to his tour. He said action taken against several officers, including Excise Commissioner, following the hooch tragedy has resulted in a vacuum in the department.

"In such a situation going on a holiday as the departmental minister is a very irresponsible step," he alleged.

The spokesman said last week Akhilesh could not attend NRI summit in Gujarat due to inclement weather, but he did not face any problem in proceeding on a holiday. "This exposes the reality of the immature CM who claim about development of the state," he alleged.

When asked about BJP's charge, cabinet minister and Samajwadi party spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury told PTI as BJP did not have any issues left it was raising this issue.

"The CM is in constant touch with officials and giving necessary instructions. He has taken strict action against officials of the excise department for the tragedy. Raising this issue shows frustration of the BJP," Chowdhury said.

"SP government has fulfilled its election manifesto in three years and initiated a number of developmental schemes in the state", he said.

The CM, according to sources, had left for foreign tour with family. However, officially, his tour has been kept a closely guarded secret as no official was ready to go on record about it.

PTI