New Delhi: Coming out in praise of former Prime Minister and Jat leader Chaudhary Charan Singh after the Centre decided to bestow him with Bharat Ratna, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav congratulated “all farmers on the good news”. Speaking on the floor of the Assembly on Friday, Yadav, however, sought to remind the members that it was his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, who had installed the statue of the mass leader outside the House.
“I would like to congratulate you and all farmers. Yesterday, the news was something else. Today, we received such good news. What can be better than this? Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) had installed his statue in front of this Vidhan Sabha. We are happy that a farmer leader has been awarded the Bharat Ratna,” news agency ANI quoted Akhilesh Yadav as saying in the Assembly.
He also expressed his happiness over the conferment of the country’s highest civilian honour on former Prime Minister and Congress leader PV Narasimha Rao and celebrated agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan.
Taking to X, Yadav wrote in Hindi, “The decision to bestow the Bharat Ratna (posthumously) on former PM and a benefactor of farmers Chaudhary Charan Singh, former PM Narasimha Rao, and the man behind India’s Green Revolution MS Swaminathan marks the fulfilment of a long-pending demand. True respect comes from respecting the principles and struggles of a person.”
Meanwhile, asked if he was joining the BJP-led NDA ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, amid speculations that talks are underway, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary said, “Koi kasar rehti hai? Aaj main kis muh se inkaar karoon aapke sawalon ko (How can I possibly refuse to respond to your questions today).”