Lucknow:
Lest Rahul Gandhi's dramatic flourish yesterday become inspirational for young UP, Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party would like to point out that tearing up paper on an election rally stage is an angry act.
Mr Yadav had more than a hint of a smile when he said today, "Rahul seems angry. Earlier he used to get angry by folding hands, then he got angry by tearing up paper. Who knows, next time he might jump off the stage in anger." Those around him laughed on cue.
The SP's 38-year-old leader too is eyeing that mantle of UP's young, dynamic leader that the Congress says belongs to 41-year-old Rahul Gandhi. Much like Mr Gandhi, Mr Yadav is credited with scripting his party's new-age election campaign in UP this time around.
His party, along with the ruling BSP, was the target yesterday when Rahul Gandhi, in a studied manner, tore a piece of paper at an Lucknow election meeting saying that the "mere lists of assurances" made by the two local UP parties were of no use.
"Did you understand? Only promises will not do," Mr Gandhi said, referring to his act of tearing the piece of paper. He then charged BSP chief Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav, SP chief and Akhilesh Yadav's father, with not honouring their commitments made in the past.
Sister Priyanka was quick to her older brother's defence. "He just tore a paper, not any party's manifesto", she pointed out in Rae Bareli today, playing down the incident by also saying, "I have not asked him anything, I saw it in the newspapers today."
She then added to his rather emphatic appeal by saying, "The public wants developments they are tired of false promises. You are casting your votes for your future. Soniaji is involved in bringing development. If you want to get rid of problems then it's the best time you can improve your future."
Mr Yadav had more than a hint of a smile when he said today, "Rahul seems angry. Earlier he used to get angry by folding hands, then he got angry by tearing up paper. Who knows, next time he might jump off the stage in anger." Those around him laughed on cue.
The SP's 38-year-old leader too is eyeing that mantle of UP's young, dynamic leader that the Congress says belongs to 41-year-old Rahul Gandhi. Much like Mr Gandhi, Mr Yadav is credited with scripting his party's new-age election campaign in UP this time around.
His party, along with the ruling BSP, was the target yesterday when Rahul Gandhi, in a studied manner, tore a piece of paper at an Lucknow election meeting saying that the "mere lists of assurances" made by the two local UP parties were of no use.
"Did you understand? Only promises will not do," Mr Gandhi said, referring to his act of tearing the piece of paper. He then charged BSP chief Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav, SP chief and Akhilesh Yadav's father, with not honouring their commitments made in the past.
Sister Priyanka was quick to her older brother's defence. "He just tore a paper, not any party's manifesto", she pointed out in Rae Bareli today, playing down the incident by also saying, "I have not asked him anything, I saw it in the newspapers today."
She then added to his rather emphatic appeal by saying, "The public wants developments they are tired of false promises. You are casting your votes for your future. Soniaji is involved in bringing development. If you want to get rid of problems then it's the best time you can improve your future."
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