Where’s the black money? Mulayam asks PM Modi

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, accusing him of fooling the people on the ‘black money’ issue and making false promises during the last general election.

This was the SP chief’s maiden visit to his constituency after winning the last Lok Sabha poll from here. He also announced projects worth Rs. 1,983 crore for people of his constituency.

Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, who was scheduled to accompany his father and SP chief to Azamgarh could not make it. Addressing a public gathering on the Sathiaon Sugar mill campus, Mulayam said: “Modi’s tall promises and poll rhetoric was ‘natak’ and nothing else.”

He was referring to the high profile election campaign of Modi during the last general election. Referring to Modi’s promise of bringing back black money, stashed in foreign banks, after forming the government at the Centre, the SP chief said: “Now, where is the black money? Modi fooled the masses and now he should seek an apology from the people.” “It is because of UP that Modi is Prime Minister. Now, when he has failed to fulfill promises made during the election, he must at least seek apology from people of the state (UP).”

The SP chief also took a dig at Modi on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India in September last.

“When Modi was shaking hands with Chinese President in New Delhi, Chinese troops had crossed the Indian border and pitched their tents,” said Mulayam. “What kind of hospitality is this?” he asked .

Further attacking Modi, Mulayam said: “Why has Modi taken a tough stand on Pakistan and being soft on China? We all know that Pakistan cannot harm India. China is a bigger threat. Then also Modi is cozying up to China,” said Mulayam. The SP chief also listed development projects executed by the Samajwadi Party government after coming to power in Uttar Pradesh.

“The SP government has fulfilled all promises it had made during the last assembly election. Be it providing water to farmers for irrigation, free medical facilities to poor, laptop to students and pension for old and widows, the SP government has fulfilled all promises,” he said.

No state government in country had carried out so much work for public welfare as the SP government in UP, asserted the SP chief.

Mulayam, however, reprimanded ministers in the SP government for failing to take before the masses development works carried out by the state government. The SP chief also shared his age-old bonding with Azamgarh.

“I vacated Mainpuri seat and retained Azamgarh despite the fact that Saifai is my hometown. Azamgarh has always been close to my heart. After forming Samajwadi Party, I conducted my first public meeting in Azamgarh,” said Mulayam.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, senior SP leader and urban development minister Azam Khan also attacked Modi.

He referred to Modi as ‘badshah’ who made false promises.

PWD minister Shivpal Yadav and several other ministers were also present on the occasion.