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of Congress party from Ut-
tar Pradesh indicated they
are ready to fight alone in
the state. “A coalition is not
important. Our workers are
ready... We have not spoken
to anyone about an alliance.”
PL Punia, is a bureaucrat
turned politician.

CBI trouble for UP’s ex CM
However, as Uttar Pradesh’s
political rivals-turned-
friends Samajwadi Party (SP)
and Bahujan Samaj Party
(BSP) appear to be in the final
stages of sewing an alliance
ahead of the national elec-
tions due in a few months, SP
chief Akhilesh Yadav is likely
to be probed by the CBI.
The opposition par-
ties have termed it blatant
misuse of the investigation
agency. The Central Bu- Knotty affair It’s not only that BJP
reau of Investigation (CBI), and Congress have shown
which is probing the ille- eagerness to forge alliances but
gal sand mining that took the Aam Aadmi Party is also equally
place between 2012 and keen to look for partners
2016 in Uttar Pradesh, may
examine Akhilesh Yadav’s
role as he was the chief min-
ister during this period and held the BJP, and he is ready to cooperate. “Now ment is running.”
mining department for a year, agency we have to tell the CBI as to how many However, the BJP, however, said that
sources said. seats we have distributed in the gath- it’s the standard procedure and the
“It’s an old case, but I am ready to bandhan. I am happy that at least the investigation agency is just doing its job.
face the investigation,” the former BJP has shown its colours. Earlier, the The CBI had conducted searches at 14
UP chief minister told. The ruling BJP Congress gave us the chance to meet locations in UP and Delhi in connection
is leaving behind the culture and it the CBI, and this time it is the BJP, which with its First Information Report (FIR)
should be ready to face the same in the has given us this opportunity.” against 11 people. Yadav, who was the
future, warned Yadav. “We are making Opposition parties have come out chief minister between 2012 and 2017,
efforts to win maximum Lok Sabha in support of the Samajwadi Party held the mining portfolio between 2012
seats. Those who want to stop us, have leader and claimed that the CBI inves- and 2013. He was succeeded by Gayatri
the CBI with them. If the CBI wants to tigation is in line with the alleged trend Prajapati, who was arrested in 2017 fol-
question me, I will answer (them). But of using the central agencies against lowing a complaint of rape by a woman
the BJP must know that people are political opponents. The Congress, residing in Chitrakoot.
ready to give an answer to them,” the SP which reports suggest has been left The CBI carried out searches at dif-
chief said. out of the alliance in UP by the SP- ferent locations on in connection with
The reports that Akhilesh BSP, said the raids shouldn’t come as its FIR against 11 persons including IAS
Yadav’s role will be probed in the scam a surprise. Senior Congress leader Ka- officer B Chandrakala, Samajwadi Party
emerged after SP and BSP indicated pil Sibal said, “Now that the reports of MLC Ramesh Kumar Mishra and Sanjay
their intend to join hands to counter SP-BSP alliance have come, raids have Dixit (who unsuccessfully contested the
the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. Yadav started against Akhilesh Yadav. This was 2017 assembly election on a BSP ticket)
quipped that it was the Congress that expected, whoever speaks against them to probe alleged illegal mining of minor
had earlier sent the CBI and now the (BJP) is raided, that’s how this govern- minerals in Hamirpur district during

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