Mulayam pulls up government over Etawah firing

Lucknow, April 2 (IANS) His patience with Uttar Pradesh Police wearing thin after Sunday's firing on a crowd of devotees in his home district Etawah, Samajwadi Party )SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav pulled up the government for neglecting the key issue of law and order.

Mulayam Singh, who is down with fever, gave a "piece of mind" to son and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and told him to personally make "efficient policing and spruce up law and order his priority," said his close aides.

The aides said that the senior Yadav was very upset with the firing which left three people dead. He refused to take calls of senior police officials who tried to informally brief him on the situation in Etawah.

Mulayam Singh, known for his soft corner for Etawah, spent some time Sunday evening discussing the matter with Akhilesh Yadav and brother and PWD Minister Shivpal Yadav.

While he asked the chief minister to announce ex-gratia relief immediately and order a magisterial probe into the firing, he later asked the PWD minister to see for himself on what triggered the violence.

With the chief minister hosting the HCL chairman Shiv Nadar Monday, Shivpal Yadav Monday went to Balrai village in Etawah, met the injured and even partook in the last rites of those killed in the firing.

Acknowledging the discontent and anger writ large on the faces of the people, Shivpal Yadav accused the police of having fired without trying to use batons and other measures to disperse the mob.

A cornered police was mum on the firing. All officials including Director General A.C. Sharma, Additional Director General Jag Mohan Yadav and Inspector General Piyush Anand did not take any calls.

Law and order is fast becoming an embarrassment for the fortnight-old Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh.