VARANASI: In the latest war of words between the ruling alliance partners in Uttar Pradesh, state BJP president Mahendra Nath Pandey on Tuesday termed SBSP Ajgara MLA Kailash Sonekar “a chor” (thief).
Pandey made the comment while speaking at a function presided by deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma at a college in Ajgara (reserved) assembly area. Ajgara is part of Chandauli parliamentary constituency from where Pandey is MP.
After Sharma unveiled the plaques of upcoming projects at the venue, Pandey said: “Isme yahan ke vidhayak (Kailash Sonekar) ka naam nahi likhvaya kyunki wo chor nikal gaya (The name of the local MLA has not been written on the plaques since he has turned out to be a thief).” Within minutes, the video of Pandey’s remark went viral on social media.
Even as Pandey targeted Sonekar, a group of weavers staged a protest against the MLA at the district headquarters alleging that he (Sonekar) had committed a fraud of Rs 600 crore in disbursing subsidised loans to 4,500 weavers. Pandey said a high-level probe will be conducted into the alleged fraud.
“No one will be spared for corruption in Yogi’s rule, whether he is a MLA or a common man,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sonekar said, “These are big people. They have the liberty to say anything against Dalits like me. I have been on their target since Rajya Sabha polls when it was alleged that I cross-voted. People will make it clear who is a thief and who is honest in the Lok Sabha polls.”
Sonekar claimed that those who had levelled charges against him had been provoked by people in a land dispute with his relatives.
Prasanta Patnaik