MULAYAM TARGETS ELECTION COMMISSION

Agra April 16 (IANS)

 

Samajwadi Party supremo Mualayam Singh Yadav today justified Azam Khan's recent controversial statements which invited the wrath of the Election Commission.

 

Yadav was addressing an election meeting at the Telegraph ground in Agra Cantonment area. He was four hours late but the party workers and public waited for him anxiously.

 

The party chief exuded confidence and claimed all the candidates were in a winning mode.

"We will win and the two main contenders will be defeated," he said.

 

Targeting the Election Commission, Mualayam Singh Yadav said it was acting arbitrarily, imposing restrictions on our leaders. Muslims have always made qurbani for the country.

 

He also said he was pointlessly blamed for his statements on women. "We have as a party always stood for the rights and empowerment of women."

 

He said cottage and small industries which provided jobs to millions in the tiny sector would be provided incentives and protected.

 

He gave a detailed account of how agriculture and farmers in general were being denied benefits and deprived of their land. His party would ensure that the farmers got a fair deal.

 

Yadav said he was aware of the deplorable condition of river Yamuna and would do something about it. "We are right now concentrating on education and public health benefits to all."

 

Yadav claimed his party's government in the state was doing a fairly good work.

 

Samajwadi Party's candidates from Fatehpur Sikri Pakshlika Singh and Agra city Maharaj Singh Dhangar are facing tough BJP rivals. In Fahtepuri Sikri (Agra rural) Amar Singh's entry as RLD-Congress candidate has disturbed the calculations of the other three parties making it a four-cornered contest. "The anti-incumbency factor, (being the ruling party in the state) also seems to be going against the party candidates," confided a party worker.