Lucknow: One half of the Akhilesh government is partying in Saifai where an annual carnival is being held and the other half has left on a five-nation study tour — the cold wave prevailing in the state and the plight of riot victims in Muzaffarnagar notwithstanding.
According to sources, more than two dozen ministers and an equal number of legislators are in Saifai in Etawah district to witness the grand finale of the Saifai Mahotsav, where Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Ranveer Singh and Soha Ali Khan were to perform.
On the other hand, eight state ministers and nine MLAs left on Wednesday morning on a 18-day five-nation study tour that is more of a paid holiday.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey and senior minister Shivpal Yadav have backed out from the tour that was originally slated to begin on December 28, 2013 but was delayed by 10 days.
Over the next 18 days, the ministers and MLAs, who are part of the state’s Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, will visit Turkey, Netherlands, the UK, Greece and the UAE to study parliamentary techniques in other countries.
The SP government has sanctioned Rs 1 crore for the trip, which comes just months ahead of the general election.
Leading the delegation is senior UP minister Azam Khan, who is also in charge of the Muzaffarnagar district where thousands were driven out of their homes in the September riots and hundreds are still living in relief camps.
Congress MLA and former UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi told reporters that “at a time when Muzaffarnagar is reeling under problems and there is an acute cold wave, the ministers and the legislators need to be in their constituencies. It is more of excursion and holidaying than a learning tour.”
Significantly, Congress Legislature Party leader Pradeep Mathur opted out of the tour.
Reacting sharply to the criticism, a senior SP leader said, “The government is working overtime to address issues related to Muzaffarnagar but other activities cannot be stopped.”
The tour was finalised several months ago and it is a study tour, not a holiday. As for the Sefai Mahotsav it is held at this time every year. If we can have the Lucknow Mahotsav on schedule, why can’t the Sefai Mahotsav be held at its scheduled time too?”
