Akhilesh-Mulayam duo blow hot and cold
It was Yogi’s treat. The chief minister, at his official residence, hosted a dinner in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was a roundtable arrangement, but the growing proximity between Narendra Modi and veteran SP (Samajwadi Party) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav was conspicuous. Both Modi and Mulayam shared a table and were seen indulging in personal chit-chat. Mulayam’s dinner diplomacy is considered important in political circles because his son Akhilesh Yadav was attempting to build a separate strategy for the upcoming presidential polls. Of late, both father and son had developed a bitter animosity. Interestingly, former chief ministers Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati abstained from this dinner. Yogi hosted around 200 guests.
Investigation causes a flutter among officials
The news that CBI will probe financial irregularities in the massive 'Gomti River Project' has caused a stir among bureaucrats. It was a pet project of former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav; Yogi had personally ordered an investigation into the scheme. The noose could tighten around many senior IAS and PCS officers involved with the project, if CBI conducts a thorough investigation into the matter. Cases have been registered against eight engineers so far. The chief minister was peeved over the fact that, despite spending Rs 1400 crore, only 60 per cent of the project could be completed.
Top officials perform yoga with violence accused
There is a non-bailable warrant against Rahul Lakhanpal Sharma, brother of BJP MP Raghav Lakhanpal Sharma. He is accused of fanning violence in Saharanpur. Interestingly, he was seen doing yoga with top officials of the district like district magistrate, senior superintendent of police and in the presence of Yogi’s cabinet minister Surya Pratap Shahi. How the administration justifies this remains to be seen.
Bhim Army goes for a facelift
The radical outfit Bhim Army, which is accused of fanning violence in Saharanpur, has dissolved its national executive and is in the process of forming new executive. In this new executive, there will be no interference from any family member of Ravan aka Chandrashekhar, founder of the outfit. According to Mike Singh, an office bearer of this outfit, the step was taken after a directive from Chandrashekhar. After they were accused of instigating violence in Saharanpur, a massive hunt was launched to nab Chandrashekhar. And after many days of chase, Chandrashekhar was arrested.
