Mulayam Singh Yadav comes in for praise from PM Narendra Modi

SAHARANPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today praised Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav for his efforts to end Parliament logjam by distancing himself from Congress' protest which stalled House proceedings throughout the Monsoon Session.

"Mulayam Singh is in the opposition. He criticizes us. Yet, for protecting the democracy, he made every effort so that Parliament be allowed to function," Modi said while adressing a public rally at Saroorpur village here.

He said his government announced a Rs 6,000 crore package to help farmers in Uttar Pradesh and the money should be given to farmers only.

Modi said his government favoured raising sugar exports and called for assiduous efforts to increase ethanol blending of fuel to benefit sugarcane growers.

Taking a jibe at Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, he said, "After the Lok Sabha election last year, the Congress chief kept wondering why her son could not become the prime minister and her son, who converses in English and has studied abroad, kept thinking how a tea-seller became the prime minister."

Accusing Congress of not letting Parliament function, he said the rival party wasted the nation's money and insulted democracy.