File photo of Mulayam Singh Yadav
In a bid to woo Muslims, Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday said if voted to power, his party would ensure amendments are made in the Constitution for reservation for the community and said only the Samajwadi Party could prevent BJP leader Narendra Modi from becoming the prime minister.
(In party manifesto, Mulayam Singh promises reservation for Muslims)"
Muslamano ne desh ko banaya hai aur musalamano ke liye sanvidhan mein sanshodhan karke arakshan diya jayega (Muslims have made this country, and for Muslims, amendments would be made in the Constitution for their reservation)," the SP supremo said at a public meeting at Etah district.
(Mulayam's shocker on rape: 'they are boys, they make mistakes')While addressing another election rally to back Akshay Yadav, son of SP national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav, he said, "Only the SP can prevent Modi from becoming the prime minister of the country."
(After shocker on rape, Mulayam Singh's half-hearted explanation)Mr Yadav also hit out at Mr Modi, saying his development claims in Gujarat were all "lies".
(Mulayam Singh's shocker on rape: who said what)Claiming that there was an internal split in the BJP, Mr Yadav said that the saffron party would never be able to touch the figure of 272 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
He exuded confidence that the Third Front would form the next government at the Centre and the SP would get the highest number of seats in the Lok Sabha.
(Mulayam soft on rapists, tough on riot victims: Narendra Modi)Attacking the Congress, he said that their leaders speak in English, but seek votes in Hindi during poll campaigns.
(India Votes 2014: coverage)The veteran SP leader also took a dig at Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram, claiming that he was afraid of contesting the polls.
Mr Yadav, who is contesting from Mainpuri and Azamgarh, was confident that he would be elected from both the seats. He claimed that neither the BJP nor the Congress would get majority in the Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing an election rally in Hathras, Mulayam said it would be decided after the elections as to who would be the prime minister in the Third Front government.
The former defence minister accused the United Progressive Alliance government of failing to provide adequate facilities to soldiers on the border.
"If the Third Front comes to power, special attention would be paid to jawans and farmers," the SP supremo said.
With several parties in Uttar Pradesh trying to woo Muslim voters, he claimed the Samajwadi Party enjoyed the support of 80 per cent members of the community in the state.
Announcing a slew of sops, he said that interest free loan would be given to farmers, besides being provided free water for irrigation, and retirement age of government employees would be extended to 65 years.