File photo of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today played down the criticism of his government by his father and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav saying "which father doesn't scold his son." Instead, he blamed the media of hyping the issue.
"The media tends to show everything that they can lay their hands on and give us free publicity... he is my father and which father does not scold his son", Akhilesh Yadav said while speaking at the 'Infrastructure Summit 2015' in Lucknow.
The SP supremo had on Wednesday questioned the government's preparedness for the upcoming panchayat polls.
"There is some time left, you (ministers and leaders) should come out of air-conditioned rooms and reach out to people and make them aware of the work done by the government," he had said.
Speaking at the Summit, the Chief Minister said, "Today is the most important day for Uttar Pradesh as Public Investment Board has given approval for the dream project (Lucknow Metro) and now a financial assistance will be allotted to the project."
He said that it was his dream to see the Metro run soon, even in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking about the works of his government, the chief minister said that a major part of the state budget was being spent on developing basic amenities for the people and infrastructure in keeping with future demands.
"Government is spending a major portion on developing infrastructure facilities of international standards like power, roads, expressways, metro among others which has attracted investors towards the state," he said.
He hoped that by the end of 2016, the state would get enough power supply and Lucknow would have cycle tracks in the city.
"Construction of International Cricket Stadium is underway and markets are also being constructed for farmers," he said, adding that Uttar Pradesh's rate of development would surpass that of India in the coming time.