Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has said that the distribution of free laptops to school children in that State was a big game changer as the scheme completely erased the image of UP as that of a backward State.
Now, UP is considered as a forward State where children use the laptops in English and Hindi, Mr. Yadav said at a meeting of the national executive of all India Yadav Mahasabha on Sunday.
He said the ruling Samajwadi Party in UP was committed to removing the inequalities in population as it focussed on improving the basic services to people. The party was elected to power because it respected all communities and believed in bringing together people from all castes, creed and religion to strengthen the State. The Samajwadi Party was trying to consolidate on gains from struggles that brought the party to power. The Yadav community in the entire country was happy when the party formed the government. The community should now forge unity, he added.
In a lighter vein, Mr. Yadav said there was a close nexus between Hyderabad and Lucknow as both the cities were famous for ‘biryani’.
He also said he felt nice to visit Hyderabad because he tasted south Indian food.
Revenue Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy promised land to Yadav associations anywhere in the State if they approached him. The chairman of AP Legislative Council A. Chakrapani said it was a satisfying feeling to have a Yadav as Chief Minister.
Telugu Desam Party leader T. Srinivas Yadav said the community constituted 14 per cent population as per 2001 census. The meeting was also addressed by UP Ministers Ambika Chowdary and Abhishek Misra. The State leaders of mahasabha said a major meeting of the community would be organised in Tirupati in September – October.
Meets Chiranjeevi
Earlier, Mr. Akhilesh Yadav drove to the residence of Union Tourism Minister K.Chiranjeevi who explained the initiatives taken by his ministry to develop tourist places in UP. He said the ‘Clean India Campaign’ was launched in Agra and Varanasi at a cost of Rs. 24 crore. Mr. Yadav said his Government would also chip in with Rs. 22 crore to match the Central funding. Mr. Chiranjeevi said that Institute of Hotel management was being set up in Amethi constituency.
His actor-son Charan also met Akhilesh at the meeting which was attended by Ministers Botcha Satyanarayana, Vatti Vasant Kumar, Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Danam Nagender besides MPs T.Subbarami Reddy and Anjan Kumar Yadav. Akhilesh also called on Revenue Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy at his residence.
