UP CM Akhilesh Yadav backs Dayashankar's ticket-selling allegation against Mayawati

Lucknow: Uttra Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday condemned the remarks made by expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh while strongly backing his allegation of tickets being sold by the BSP for the upcoming assembly polls. 

"What Dayashankar Singh said is condemnable, but tickets are sold in Bahujan Samaj Party and everyone knows this fact," CM Akhilesh said while speaking at a function here where he felicitated the scholars. 

"One part is wrong, but the other part is right and true. We all know that the people get tickets in BSP through money and bribe. Even those who are leaving the BSP are saying such things. We have read such statements only till now."

Former BJP’s UP vice president Dayashankar Singh had on Wednesday caused big embarrassment to the party when he compared Mayawati to a prostitute and alleged that Maya offers party ticket in lieu of money. 

His remark triggered uproar in the state with BSP demanding for Singh's immediate arrest. The BJP was quick to act and sacked Singh despite his apology to the BSP chief.

Reacting strongly to ongoing protests held by BSP as well as BJP workers over Dayashankar's derogatory comment against the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Akhilesh said, "It is right that such language should not be used against any women. But what was said in reply (by BSP general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui), that too on a public platform, was also not correct. The language that was used was condemnable and does not suit the city like Lucknow which is famous for its 'adab."

On Friday, Dayashankar's family filed a FIR against Mayawati and BSP national general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui, state president Ram Achal Rajbhar and other unidentified party leaders on charges of insulting and abusing the family during the party’s protest in Lucknow on Thursday. 

"Kanoon apna kaam karega, kanoon sabke liye barabar hai (Law will take its course. The law is equal for everybody)," CM Akhilesh said when asked about FIRs filed by both BSP as well as BJP against each other over Dayashankar's remark issue.