Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on BJP govt over the ongoing electricity crisis in the state, alleging that it “completely ruined” the power sector and was misleading the public rather than addressing the shortage.In a statement, Akhilesh said the public would “completely wipe out” the BJP in the coming polls due to its failure to provide uninterrupted electricity supply.In a sarcastic swipe at chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Akhilesh remarked that it was fortunate the “failed chief minister” did not blame the “massive power disaster” on any conspiracy allegedly hatched by “messengers sent from Delhi”.Questioning the functioning of state govt, the SP president asked whether Uttar Pradesh’s power minister attended the chief minister’s review meetings or was not invited at all.He mockingly suggested that if the minister did attend such meetings, the chief minister should post a photograph with his “hand on the minister’s shoulder” so that the public could at least get some “relief from their visible warmth”.Akhilesh further claimed that no new power plant was established during the tenure of the current chief minister and that not even a single additional unit of electricity generation was added in the state.He accused govt of focusing only on replacing electricity meters repeatedly in order to “extort money” from consumers. According to him, govt “deceived and looted” the people in the name of power reforms.Referring to growing public anger over power outages, Akhilesh said people were being forced to hit the streets. He alleged that instead of increasing electricity production and ensuring stable supply, govt was resorting to “illogical arguments” and attempting to mislead the public.The former chief minister also claimed that the situation deteriorated to the extent that PAC personnel were being deployed at electricity substations, while BJP MLAs and MPs were writing letters against their own govt in an attempt to shield themselves from public anger.“BJP mein ab current nahi raha (The BJP no longer has any current left),” Akhilesh quipped.SP delegation seeks probe into Ghazipur caseLucknow: A Samajwadi Party delegation on Wednesday met DGP Rajeev Krishna, seeking a high-level probe into alleged police harassment in Ghazipur and further action in the Shilpi Kushwaha murder case in Hardoi.The delegation — comprising Ram Asrey Vishwakarma, Udayveer Singh and Sunil Singh Sajan — submitted a memorandum alleging that Karanda SHO falsely implicated Anil Singh Yadav, his brother Sunil (an NSG commando), and Vicky Yadav at the behest of village head representative Ashutosh Singh ‘Ashu’ due to political rivalry in Kataria village.SP leaders alleged that police personnel illegally entered the family’s house on April 28, damaged vehicles, looted jewellery and harassed women.They also demanded FIRs and action against alleged conspirators in the Shilpi Kushwaha case, along with security for the victim’s family.
