SP govt symbol of Dalit oppression and corruption: Ex-Dalit panel chief | Lucknow News
Lucknow: Former chairman of UP Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation and MLC Lalji Prasad Nirmal on Saturday attacked Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and termed his tenure as UP CM a symbol of Dalit humiliation, corruption, and nepotism.Nirmal said while the country was honouring institutions named after late Kanshi Ram, Akhilesh Yadav attempted to erase his legacy. The Urdu-Arabi-Farsi University in Lucknow, originally named after Kanshi Ram, was renamed and other govt schemes in his name were also changed, giving a severe blow to the dignity of the Dalit community. He added that the BSP’s Lucknow rally on Oct 9 has exposed SP’s anti-Dalit character.Highlighting the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre, Nirmal alleged that collusion between contractors and officials had turned it into a hub of corruption. He added that SP not only opposed Dalit reservations but also reversed thousands of Dalit employees’ appointments, encroached on lands, and perpetuated oppression.He emphasized that Uttar Pradesh’s Dalit community is now aware of who truly protects their rights. He predicted that in the 2027 elections, the SP will face the same rejection that Congress did.Five-Star JPNIC project symbolized luxury, not socialism: Asim ArunLucknow: Social welfare minister Asim Arun on Saturday said the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre project under the SP govt represented extravagance rather than socialism. Designed with helipads, swimming pools, and five-star facilities, the project deviated from JP’s vision of simplicity and welfare for the poor, he said. Initially Rs 200 crore were allocated for the project that inflated to Rs 867 crore yet remained incomplete. The Yogi government has now taken over the project to ensure it serves as a learning centre, honouring JP’s legacy, rather than a playground for the elite, the minister added. He criticized Akhilesh Yadav’s recent alliance with the Congress, asserting that true social welfare lies not in luxury projects but in ensuring food, housing, and development for the people, an ideal upheld by the BJP under PM Modi’s ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ vision.
