[1]Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh, on Thursd-ay, defended the Akhilesh Yadav government on the law and order issue, saying that it would take some time to set things in order.
“I faced similar problems in Madhya Pradesh after becoming the chief minister. It takes about six months’ time to get accustomed to things,” he said.
Mr Singh, who was here on a visit during presidential polls, said that UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was young and should be given time to fulfill the expectations of the electorate. “The centre is also supporting him in fulfilling the aspirations of the people,” he added.
Replying to a question, Mr Singh denied that SP and Congress were looking for a permanent alliance. “We will remain with the people and wherever there is injustice, we will fight for them. We recently contested the Assembly polls against SP,” he explained.
To another question, Mr Digvijay Singh clarified that the financial package given by the Centre to the state was not unusual but “merely the annual plan decided by the Planning Commission as per the demands of the state including one for the Maha Kumbh”.
Asked about the pro-active role that he had been talking of for Mr Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader said that such a demand was coming up from all corners, including within the Congress.
Meanwhile, former MP chief minister and now UP MLA, Ms Uma Bharti, also caste her vote for the residential polls in Lucknow. Talking to reporters, she said she would attend the next session of the UP Assembly and had absented herself during the budget session due to prior preoccupations.
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