People feel so much should not be spent: Ram Naik on Mulayam b'day

VARANASI: In a veiled criticism of the lavish birthday festivities for the ruling SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, UP Governor Ram Naik has said that there is a feeling among the people that so much expenditure should not be done.

The Governor also suggested that the SP chief and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should think over party leader Azam Khan's comment that the event was "funded by Taliban and Dawood Ibrahim".

"When I conferred a doctorate degree on SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav in an university convocation function earlier, I had myself given a suggestion that when Mulayam Singh Yadav turns 75, a nice celebration should be there for his birthday.

"This event which has been organised...there is a feeling among the people that so much expenditure should not be done," Naik said yesterday.

Naik, however, said as he held a Constitutional post, it would not be right for him to make any political comments.

Asked about UP Minister Azam Khan's comment that Taliban and Dawood Ibrahim had "provided funds" for the event, Naik said, "The UP CM and SP chief should think over the matter of his senior ministers giving such comments."

When questioned about the funding for the grand event, an irate Khan, who has left no stone unturned to make the celebrations successful, had on Friday sarcastically said, "Why does it matter where the money for celebrations is coming from? Some have come from Taliban, some from Abu Salem, some from Dawood(Ibrahim), some from terrorists...," he had said.

Naik was here to attend the 36th convocation of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith yesterday.

The Governor had earlier also criticised the UP government, saying that "there is a need to improve law and order situation" in the state.

Riled over the remark Samajwadi Party had hit back, accusing him of trying to act like an "extra constitutional authority".