Forget apology, Akhilesh Yadav defends and justifies Saifai Mahotsav

Lucknow, Jan 10: Two days after the controversial Saifai Mahotsav took place, Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav on Friday defended and justified the event saying that 'Saifai events gives a platform to the talented youth.'

Addressing reporters here he said that small traders get the opportunity to do some business during the event. "Ask me about Muzaffarnagar riots, I am accountable. I am proud of what the state government has done for the riot victims. No government has come ahead and done as much as the SP government has done for the riot victims ," he said.

Yadav, who was seen in an aggressive mode, hit out at the media saying that 'sitting in a room, you'll want to be the judiciary of whats happening here in UP.' "All those who are spreading lies about the government spending Rs 300 crore for the festival must apologise. Not more that Rs 7 crore was spent for the festival," he said.

Continuing his attack on the media, Yadav said that journalists had travelled on his chopper, to do his coverage but the story gets killed due to the channel's marketing department.

"Our policy is to attract tourists to Uttar Pradesh. It is wrong to question stars who performed at the event," he said.

OneIndia News