Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav addresses media after wide-spread condemnation of a Bollywood night held at his hometown Saifai as part of a lavish festival at a time when thousands of displaced villagers are struggling to cope in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar.
Here are the highlights:
Don't ask Bollywood stars any questions. I am the Chief Minister, ask me
This festival takes place every year
It was started by my brother
The mela committee organizes it
Our policy is to attract tourists in Uttar Pradesh
The locals had been preparing for a year
The traders at the Saifai festival are very small. The events give them some earnings
The Rs 300 crore budget for the festival is false
Why are you questioning Bollywood actors, and their families
State has done everything possible for the people in camps
Samajwadi Party has done everything possible
Those claiming Rs 300 crore were spent should apologize. The Committee maintains all records
Artists come every year
Wrong to question the Bollywood stars who performed
Maximun Rs 7 crore spent every year. This year was no different
Most people connected with the festival are poor
Salman Khan visited a children's hospital. He paid for a child's treatment. This was never reported
The media should apologise to me, to Netaji for their reports on Safai