Jumbo Promise

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">LUCKNOW: A little over a month into his third term in office, UP chief minister <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Mulayam Singh Yadav</span> already finds himself embroiled in controversy: From his decision to allow students'' union elections to his defence of Amarmani Tripathi to his jumbo ministry of 98. But, as ever, Mulayam remains unfazed. At the end of a long and tiring ''janata darbar'', the Samajwadi supremo explains to <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Atul Chandra</span> why his critics have got it wrong: <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">To begin with, your defence of Amarmani Tripathi. Aren''t you backing the wrong horse? </span><br />What I said was that by joining the Samajwadi Party, Amarmani had saved the state from the misrule of the BSP-BJP combine, which is a fact. But have I made him a minister? Did I say that I will interfere with the ongoing CBI inquiry against him or am I even seen to be doing that? In a situation where every legislator''s support is crucial, not much should be read into that one statement. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">But hasn''t this support, primarily through defections, also perpetuated the kind of ''aya ram, gaya ram'' political culture which is at the root of the state''s poor development record besides giving rise to a 98-strong jumbo ministry? </span><br />Let me, first, clarify that this support is not based on defections. The MLAs supporting us first formed a group and then merged with the SP. A merger is different from defections. Now, about the size of the ministry. It has been kept large because we want everyone''s participation in the development of the state. If each of my minister performs well, the face of the state will change. In the end, it is the performance and not the size that counts. Of course, I do believe in having a small ministry. During my tenures in 1979 and 1993, the size of the ministries was small — 27 and 26 respectively. Is baar agar mantri zyada hain to uske peechhe pradesh ke development ka uddeshya hai. <br /><br />As for lack of development due to political instability, I have altogether different views. Tell me what development took place during all those years of stable government — both at the Centre and in the states — after Independence? The story of the state would have been different had attention been paid to health, education, eradication of poverty and to ending discrimination. All that an average Indian had dreamed of getting after the Independence was denied to him not by coalitions but by stable governments. As I have said in my speech on the floor of the House also, give me six months before passing any judgment. You will see the difference. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">But won''t the jumbo ministry be a drain on the exchequer? </span><br />After taking over, I have been to Delhi twice. I did not, and will not, use the state plane as I knew the parking charges at the airport would cost a lot of money. I paid for my ticket, and even for the tea and food at the UP Sadan. I have decided to travel economy class. And if I have to travel to, say, Kolkata, I will go to Delhi by air and then take a train. <br />I have reduced the number of cars in my fleet from 12 to seven and have also brought down the number of personnel in my security. I have also decided not to take any pocket money. If I am practising austerity, will the other ministers not follow? Officers, too, would be forced to stop the misuse of official vehicles. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">You have been criticised for reviving students'' union elections in universities and colleges even when these unions have been responsible for the criminalisation of campuses in recent years? </span><br />How many incidents of criminal nature took place before or after the elections? Give me one instance. And if criminal elements are trying to take refuge in hostels in the guise of students or are being sheltered by union leaders it is the responsibility of university and college adminis- trations to bring it to the notice of the district administration. Hamein bataayein. Hang me if I don''t act or if the district administration does not help them out. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">You were seen as a follower of Ram Manohar Lohia. Have you ceased to be a Lohiaite? </span><br />It is wrong to say that I have given up the cause of the poor and the hungry. I have experienced hunger so I can never do that. Nobody wrote about the promptness with which we despatched flood relief recently. Instead of five kg each, 20 kg of relief material per person was distributed. <br />Even before the press could point a finger, I had transferred the DM and SP of Kushinagar for ordering police firing on innocent people. I have got cases registered against them. My question to them was — Do you start firing at people simply because they throw stones at you? <br />But being a Lohiaite does not mean ignoring the overall interests of the state. That is why for the first time such a high profile development council has been formed in the state. It is a necessity. <br />How can we talk of eradicating poverty, illiteracy and illness without the overall development of Uttar Pradesh which is today lagging behind Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and is only marginally ahead of Bihar? Let me tell you that both Chaudhary Charan Singh and Lohia were my role models. I would like to be a role model myself. That is why I strongly believe in political values and integrity. Give us six months.</div> </div>