‘We brought down BJP in UP. Who defeated Joshi, Katiyar? Sonia owes sainthood to this BJP rout’

• Despite being India’s largest state with so many MPs and former prime ministers, Uttar Pradesh has not progressed compared to the south Indian states or Maharashtra. Why?
Ramesh Balasubramanian

The precise reason for the lack of growth in Uttar Pradesh lies in your question. It may be a ‘PM-producing’ state, but it was not growth-oriented till Mulayam Singh Yadav, the honourable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, revolutionised the path of progress by creating the Uttar Pradesh Development Council.

• There is a clear perception among the masses that the SP has an understanding with the BJP and it has diluted its commitment to secularism in exchange for BJP support. The BJP has publicly hinted at its proximity with the SP. Is the SP using the BJP as a counter to the Congress or is the BJP using the SP for the same purpose?
Y Yunus

There cannot be a bigger lie than this perception. The BJP was brought down from 58 seats to 10 in Uttar Pradesh, and who defeated Murli Manohar Joshi, Vinay Katiyar and Swami Chinmayanand? The newly acquired sainthood of the Congress president by shunning power became possible due to the Samajwadi Party’s superlative performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Had there not been BJP debacle in Uttar Pradesh, there would have been no power to shun.

• I do understand your relationship with Amitabh Bachchan, but why do you have to hold his hand at every function, telling the crowd about the chhota-badha bhai relationship? Does he need you or do you need him for survival?
Onkar Sharma

Neither do I need Amitabh Bachchan, nor does he need me for survival, but yes we cannot do without each other emotionally. Any problems with that?

• Amar Singh is the next leader of the Samajwadi Party, but we want to see him ruling UP, as Chief Minister, because he has the vision and ability to control the problems of the state.
Mohammad Khursheed

Why do you see any difference between Mulayam Singh Yadav and me? He is my leader, my anchor and my inspiration.

• To woo any MNC for investment in their state, generally local governments show their past records or their current beneficiaries to industries who want to establish units there. But to make General Motors invest in Uttar Pradesh, you organised a dance programme on public funds!
Shailendra Kumar

To make it clear, no member of the Uttar Pradesh Development Council, from Anil Ambani to Nandan Nilekani, from Adi Godrej to M S Banga, accepts any form of remuneration from the Uttar Pradesh government. They work for free. The cost of the show that was organised recently for the General Motor’s delegation was borne entirely by Subrata Roy of Sahara India Parivar, who is also a senior member of the Uttar Pradesh Development Council. I am publicly and very emphatically saying that not a single penny of the tax payers’ money or any money from the Uttar Pradesh government’s coffers was paid towards organising the so-called ‘‘extravaganza’’.

• What is the Samajwadi Party’s reply to Chambal bandit Nirbhay Singh’s offer to surrender if he is given a ticket by the party from the Etawah assembly constituency?
Rupali Koulage

It is a sensitive question pertaining to law and order and without any serious deliberation, no tangible reply can be given. By the way, a leading English daily, well known for its pro-Congress leanings, has declared the Congress-ruled Delhi state the ‘rape capital’ of India. Those who live in glasshouses should refrain from throwing stones at others.

• I clearly remember seeing you on television before the last assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, saying that the Samajwadi Party does not back goondas like Raja Bhaiyya (I have translated your words). The same Raja Bhaiyya is a minister in Mulayam Singh’s government. Does spending some days in jail absolve him of what you said?
Amit

My opinion about Raja Bhaiyya was based on negative media reports and Pramod Tiwari’s assumptions against him. Subsequently, when I personally came to know him, I found him to be anything but a goonda. As they say, to err is human and to forgive divine, and here I would like to state that I am deeply embarrassed about how grossly mistaken I was in judging Raja Bhaiyya without knowing him.