LUCKNOW, Feb 9: Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today accused China of “betraying” India and said it was a challenge for the country.
“While its (Chinese) President was shaking hands here, their men were erecting tents on the Indian side (of the border). This practice is a challenge for the country,” he said.
Yadav was speaking at a function organised here to give ‘Yash Bharti’ awards to 56 persons — 22 for year 2013-14 and the rest for 2014-15.
Referring to the recent visit of US President Barack Obama to India, Yadav said, “Recently the head of a country was given warm reception in the country. Now he is saying that in India there is most discrimination. In past the same was done to Chinese President also, but it (China) betrayed us.”
Attacking the Centre, he said the country cannot be developed by befooling people for long.
“The country cannot be developed by befooling people for a long time. For development of the state, there was need to recognise the contribution of every section without any discrimination,” he said in a veiled attack on the Narendra Modi government.
In his address, Yadav said folk music is the “real music giving the real feel of the land, people and our surroundings.”
He said a number of folk artistes were awarded during the SP regime and those left will be taken care of in the future.
“SP believes in promoting folk culture and does whatever is possible for it. We have also honoured pradhan (village head) of Saifai, who had done a lot for women empowerment,” he said.
Expressing gratitude to those who attended the function despite their busy schedule, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said only the SP government used to take care of those excelling in different areas.
“In the past too, Netaji (Mulayam) had honoured people at their houses. We have honoured people of UP by identifying them from different fields — be it films, writing or singing,” Akhilesh said.
He said that in SP regime everyone would be given equal opportunity to grow.
Prominent among those who were honoured included singers Anoop Jalota, Shubha Mudgal, Rekha Bhardwaj, Kailash Kher, Ravindra Jain, and actors Jimmy Shergil and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
On the occasion, Maharani Ahilya Bhai Holkar and Rani Laxmi Bai bravery awards were given to Sima Tiwari and Resham Fatima. (PTI)
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