BSP terms Akhilesh Yadav's 'vikas rath yatra' as 'bankrupt yatra'

LUCKNOW: Terming Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's 'vikas rath yatra' as "bankrupt yatra", BSP supremo Mayawati today said had Samajwadi Party "really worked" for people's welfare, it "would not have needed to take out the yatra with massive government expenditure".

"Had the Samajwadi Party government really taken up works for people's interest and welfare, it would not have needed to take out this rath yatra with massive government expenditure as (government's) works definitely speak for themselves," she said in a release.

On Yadav's hi-tech customised rath developing a snag at the very beginning of the yatra, Mayawati said, "While the luxury rath worth crores of rupees made Akhilesh's rath yatra bankrupt at the very start, the supporters created ruckus all along the route and police were forced to remain a mute spectator".

"In fact, the vikas yatra has proved to be a bankrupt yatra," she claimed.

The BSP chief alleged that people of the state have complaints that development works are mere claims as its benefits have not reached them.

"Can merely making announcements, laying foundation stones or inaugurating half-completed projects be considered as development?" she asked.

Alleging that casteism, corruption and 'jungle raj' remained rampant during the Samajwadi Party rule in the state, Mayawati claimed even the Supreme Court and the High Court have been pulling up the government over different issues.

The BSP chief also alleged that there is a "tacit understanding" between BJP and SP, and claimed it is because of this that the Chief Minister only makes indirect references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and desist from open criticism.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav embarked on the highly-publicised rath yatra yesterday to highlight the development works undertaken by him during the last over four years.

It was flagged off by Samajwadi Party patriarch and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav with whom he was locked in a bitter power struggle a few days back.