At Mulayam's Birthday Celebrations, Azam Khan Brags About Rs 70 Lakh Buggy

Lucknow: Mulayam Singh Yadav's birthday celebration continued for the second day on Saturday in Rampur where the Samajwadi Party chief laid foundation stone for a medical college.

At the function, an exuberant Mr Yadav thanked Azam Khan, the MLA from Rampur, for organising the celebrations and termed it a 'historic day' for himself.

All senior ministers of the Uttar Pradesh government were present on the stage and Mr Yadav exhorted them to be generous to Rampur.

Unfazed by mounting criticism over the birthday blitz, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said, "We saw the grand celebration, the fireworks and through TV the whole world saw people who are jealous of us."

Azam Khan continued to play to the gallery, calling himself a "media item" and bragging about the imported Victorian buggy which Mr Yadav rode for 14 kilometres yesterday, leading a cavalcade of 50 cars carrying about 40 state ministers. Mr Khan today said the buggy was sent by his nephew from London. "Don't question our love, the buggy was for Rs 70 lakh."

Mr Khan had courted controversy on Friday by saying sarcastically, "The Taliban has funded it," when asked who has paid for the extravagant birthday party.

The opulent celebrations have prompted the BJP to demand an enquiry into the expenses.

"I think all those in power in Uttar Pradesh should face probe for their disproportionate assets. This is public money, it should not be misused like this," BJP leader Yogi Adityanath said.

But while the Samajwadi Party was busy partying, some supporters of its MLA Abhay Singh were caught on camera mercilessly thrashing toll plaza attendants in Barabanki district in broad daylight when asked to pass through another lane.

"They beat up our toll plaza attendant and a guard... we have footage of the entire incident. Our attendant is severely injured," said Kuldeep Singh, a toll booth employee.

But this of course went unheeded amidst the celebrations.