The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly today witnessed noise scenes and uproar as Samajwadi Party members lodged a strong protest against a reported remark by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath against socialism. Soon after the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Ram Govind Chaudhary said the chief minister, at a recent event in Lucknow, had referred to socialist ideology as promoter of terrorism, corruption and nepotism. "A statement to this effect from a responsible leader is condemnable...
Socialism has also been discussed in the Constitution," Chaudhary said demanding the chief minister apologise for his statement. Reacting to Chaudhary's demand, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna said the Leader of Opposition had incorrect information. "The Chief Minister respects Ram Manohar Lohia (socialist leader) and he has said this many times... He (Chaudhary) is wasting the time of the House by taking notice of what has been stated in newspapers," Khanna said prompting SP members to rush to the Well of the House raising slogans. "Casteism was rampant during the Samajwadi Party government..a particular caste was being promoted," Khanna retorted. As the noisy scenes continued, Speaker Hriday Narain Dixit adjourned the House, first in phases, and later for the day. SP members were protesting against the chief minister's reported remarks allegedly linking "samajwad to atankwad" as carried by a local Hindi newspaper.
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