State government not at fault: CM Akhilesh Yadav on Lokayukta appointment

GORAKHPUR: A day after the Supreme Court slammed the Uttar Pradesh government for failing to appoint a Lokayukta, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said that there was no laxity on his part and he was not at fault.

"There was no dilly-dallying on the part of the state government. It is a known fact that who is responsible for the delay in appointment of new Lokayukta in the state," Akhilesh said without taking any name.

He said that the state government was not at fault from any point.

"We honour the apex court's order," he said.

The apex court had yesterday directly appointed retired Justice Virendra Singh as the new Lokayukta of UP after the state government failed to meet the deadline fixed by it.

Akhilesh was speakig after launching 148 projects worth Rs 585 crore.

In a veiled attack on the BJP led NDA government, he said, "Those who used to call our laptop distribution scheme a 'jhunjhuna' (plaything), are now themselves talking about digital India."

He said that it was known that those who were talking about Swacch Bharat, have gone with the broom.

Stating that there were number of challenges before the country and the state, Akhilesh said debate should be held on development, but some people were raising other issues to distract attention.

Referring to the issue of Japanese Encephalitis in east UP, he said he has requested the Centre to set up an AIIMS in Gorakhpur.

He said that the state has assured to provide 2.5 acre land and if the Centre provides fund, it would make provision for other infrastructure in its next budget and start construction.

Akhilesh said UP has come in the category of a state which decided the new agenda of development and other states were forced to follow it.

He said that perception of those who used to call UP, 'Ulta Pradesh', has changed after witnessing the development.