Waqf Bill is to divert people’s attention and promote useless debate: Akhilesh

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh). Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav said that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill introduced in Parliament is a trick of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government to divert people’s attention from the main issues and engage them in unnecessary debate and hide its failure to boost the economy. Yadav, MP from Kannauj, targeted the government for a ‘lackluster’ budget a day after the joint committee report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was tabled in both the Houses of Parliament. Criticizing the Union Budget in Varanasi, he said that the government claims to bring India’s economy from fifth to third position globally but the budget has only disappointed. The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister accused the government of failing to support the manufacturing sector and said that due to this slogans like ‘Make in India’ have become ineffective. He alleged, “The government has now introduced a new bill (referring to the Wakf Bill) to divert people’s attention from real issues and keep them engaged in useless debates. This is the BJP’s old strategy to divert attention from main issues.” Yadav also criticised the government’s claims of making India a developed nation and turning Varanasi into Kyoto. When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit, Yadav said, “It is good that he has gone abroad, but instead of opening Indian markets for the US, he should bring back trade deals that benefit our people.” Recalling one of his remarks in Parliament, he said, “Last time Modi ji went to the US with diamonds, this time he could have at least taken a gold chain.” He also expressed concern about Indians struggling for jobs and migrating illegally. He claimed, “The dream of a developed India should be that our citizens do not have to leave the country due to lack of jobs. In many states, especially Punjab and Gujarat, a large number of people are going to other countries illegally. If such a list is prepared, Gujarat will have the highest number of illegal immigrants. Yadav said, “India should be so strong that no country can deport our citizens by handcuffing them and treating them like criminals. The fact that Indians were deported and landed in Amritsar during ‘Amrit Kaal’ is an insult to India and its citizens.” He said, “I have always said that trade relations should be strengthened, but the Indian government should not hand over its market to foreign powers.” When asked about the imposition of President’s rule in Manipur, Yadav said, “It should have been implemented long ago.