Stung by unexpected criticism from the Opposition, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday withdrew his decision to allow state legislators to purchase four-wheelers worth up to Rs 20 lakhs out of their local area development funds.
The chief minister briefly said at a hurriedly-convened press conference at his residence: “I take back my decision because many legislators decided not to take up the offer after the (way) the media interpreted it wrongly. In any case, this was optional and not binding on all legislators.”
The CM apparently decided to rescind the decision after the entire Opposition termed it “anti-people” and refused to be a part of it. Leader of the Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya said Wednesday it was a welcome sign that the government rectified the mistake and accepted the views of the Opposition.
The BJP, BSP and Congress had said on Tuesday their MLAs would not spend funds development of their constituencies on buying luxury vehicles for themselves.
Some Samajwadi MLAs had also opposed the move. SP MLA Ravidas Mehrotra said he would not spend funds on a vehicle as it was meant only for development. Senior SP minister Azam Khan, however, defended the CM, saying that the scheme was meant for legislators who came from a financially weak background and could not afford luxury vehicles.