Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has left for the US to teach business students at Harvard the finer points of his government's orchestration and coordination of the massive Maha-kumbh Mela that was held in Uttar Pradesh in February. (Akhilesh to explain Kumbh arrangements at Harvard)
But at home, two of his ministers have displayed the sort of "goon-power" or "goonda-raj" that the young chief minister had vowed to expel when he was elected a year ago.
UP Textile Minister Shivkumar Beria told a public gathering "No cop can do anything until I give orders. No cop can even sit till I give orders." The minister was unambiguous about his power or his intent.
"If a cop does not listen to me, he has no right even for a minute to sit on the chair, he will be sacked within 24 hours," he warned. (Watch video here)
Another minister, Ram Murti Verma, declared elsewhere that the state's notorious lawlessness cannot be curbed.
"Crimes in UP keep happening, they (have) happened and will keep happening. No power can stop crimes in UP," professed Mr Verma, who holds the Social Welfare portfolio. (Your Comments)
Terming the statements "unfortunate", Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said senior SP leader will talk to the ministers about their remarks.
The ministers' disclosures come as the Chief Minister is being bombarded with accusations that he has not been able to improve law and order in his state, and that his own government is a snapshot of criminality. In March, his minister Raja Bhaiya was forced to resign after being accused of conspiring to have a senior police officer murdered in his constituency. (Akhilesh Yadav's political journey)
Recently, even Mr Yadav's father, Mulayam Singh, who heads the Samajwadi Party, publicly urged him to improve security and safety in Uttar Pradesh.
On Tuesday, the Yadav government began a statewide image makeover campaign and ministers have been asked to fan out in the state to communicate the achievements of the one-year-old Samajwadi Party government.
Mr Beria and Mr Verma clearly believed their speeches fit into that plan.
But at home, two of his ministers have displayed the sort of "goon-power" or "goonda-raj" that the young chief minister had vowed to expel when he was elected a year ago.
"If a cop does not listen to me, he has no right even for a minute to sit on the chair, he will be sacked within 24 hours," he warned. (Watch video here)
Advertisement
"Crimes in UP keep happening, they (have) happened and will keep happening. No power can stop crimes in UP," professed Mr Verma, who holds the Social Welfare portfolio. (Your Comments)
Advertisement
The ministers' disclosures come as the Chief Minister is being bombarded with accusations that he has not been able to improve law and order in his state, and that his own government is a snapshot of criminality. In March, his minister Raja Bhaiya was forced to resign after being accused of conspiring to have a senior police officer murdered in his constituency. (Akhilesh Yadav's political journey)
Advertisement
On Tuesday, the Yadav government began a statewide image makeover campaign and ministers have been asked to fan out in the state to communicate the achievements of the one-year-old Samajwadi Party government.
Advertisement
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Akhilesh Yadav Posts A "Monsoon Offer", Party Leader Says Message To BJP "Like Nazi Germany": UP Police Under Fire For Kanwar Yatra Rule Why BJP Lost Lok Sabha Polls In Uttar Pradesh - 6 Reasons In Party Report Barack Obama Wants Joe Biden To Pull Out Of US Presidential Race: Report World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage Shooter Had Trump's Face Right In Middle Of Crosshairs, Shows New Video Comedy Legend Bob Newhart Dead At 94: Publicist Israeli Strike Kills Field Commander In Elite Hezbollah Unit: Report Delhi-San Francisco Air India Flight Diverted To Russia After Engine Glitch Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.