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Mulayam hits out at Sonia

Special Correspondent

`Her criticism of U.P. Government a pack of lies'

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has slammed Congress president Sonia Gandhi's criticism of his government as a pack of lies which only showed the level to which the UPA Chairperson could stoop.

Addressing a public meeting at the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University ground in Gorakhpur after distributing Kanya Vidya Dhan cheques and unemployment dole on Friday, Mr. Yadav hit out at Ms. Gandhi "for remaining mum on the disparaging remarks made against Islam by Pope Benedict XVI".

The Chief Minister slammed the UPA Government at the Centre for insulting the Muslims by stating that the U.P. madarsas were terrorist strongholds. He demanded that the Central Government render an unconditional apology to the Muslims for defaming them.

Mr. Yadav criticised Ms Gandhi and the UPA Government in the presence of mega star Amitabh Bachchan who was the special guest at the function.

The Chief Minister said it seemed Ms. Gandhi's advisers compelled her to level false allegations against him and his government, which only exposed the UPA Chairperson.

Charging that the Congress had unleashed propaganda to defame his government, Mr. Yadav said Ms. Gandhi's son (Rahul Gandhi) had been making unsavoury comments against senior leaders whereas the Samajwadi Party leaders addressed Ms. Gandhi as "Soniaji".

Hitting out at Ms. Gandhi for issuing the "jail bharo" call to her party cadres, the U.P. Chief Minister took exception to the Congress president's remarks that Central funds were being pocketed by the ruling party functionaries. Mr. Yadav said during the Congress rule only Rs. 12 out of Rs. 100 was spent on development with the rest being shared by power brokers and leaders.

Mr. Yadav accused the Central Government of discriminating against the State and said several welfare schemes were pending because of the Centre's non-cooperation.

The surprise package at the show, Amitabh Bachchan's presence electrified the audience comprising girl students and unemployed youths. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Bachchan lauded the Chief Minister for his initiative and said only Mr Yadav could accomplish such a task. The mega star said since he had also remained unemployed he could very well understand the sentiments of the Kanya Vidya Dhan and unemployment dole beneficiaries.

Mr. Bachchan expressed concern at gender bias and said the country would progress only if the women were given their rightful due. He rendered a few lines from his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan's famous poem, "Agnipath", and said the youth had an important role to play in nation-building.

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Mulayam hits out at Sonia

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