Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has made a statement that lacks any amount of self-respect, even by his own standards. Facing flak for plundering and vandalising the bungalow that he was compelled to vacate after being ordered to do so by the apex court, Akhilesh Yadav has lashed out at the officials who carried out the eviction of the bungalow. He has stooped to the level of issuing a threat to the officials of the estate department who carried out the process of eviction.
Without naming anyone, the SP president unabashedly stated that the official managing the process of eviction used to pick up ‘cups and plates’ before him. In a dastardly threat to government officials in the state, the former Chief Minister stated that governments keep coming and going. He literally threatened government officers that if they do their duty as per the law, he would make things personal and harass them if and when he comes back to power. It must be noted that the eviction order had been made by the Supreme Court and the officials in question were only giving effect to it. Therefore, Akhilesh Yadav has not just threatened the official who managed the eviction of the bungalow, but has also cast aspersions on the order of the apex court requiring him to vacate the bungalow.
Prior to this, Akhilesh Yadav had faced intense criticism even as details of the government bungalow being ransacked at the time of eviction had emerged. When the bungalow was opened for inspection by officials on Saturday, it was found that air conditioners, Turkish tiles, Italian marble and even bathroom fittings had been stolen from the property. Not only this, even water taps were missing from the bungalow, and the swimming pool and the cycling track were badly damaged. Even the kitchen faced the brunt of the arrogance of the former Chief Minister. BJP spokesperson, Rakesh Tripathi came out all guns blazing against Akhilesh Yadav for such unruly and immature behaviour. He stated, “One would understand if they took air-conditioners, but even electric bulb holders and tiles are missing. The broken tiles cannot be used again, which shows he acted out of frustration, just like a kid”. SP leaders, however, came out with the most bizarre explanations and arguments in order to defend their leader’s misconduct. SP leader Ram Govind Chaudhary, the opposition leader in Uttar Pradesh Assembly stated that estates department official first went into the flat after the keys were handed over and then returned with the media. This seems to be a distasteful allegation against the estate officials and there is an attempt to scapegoat the officials for vandalism by the SP and Akhilesh Yadav.
Akhilesh stated that he would buy the missing things personally and give it to the government. However, no one can damage government property and then order the government to give him a list of “missing items”. What Akhilesh did amounts to vandalism and theft and he must be made to face the legal consequences.
Akhilesh Yadav needs to understand that the government bungalow was never his personal property. Threatening them, or in anyway preventing them from carrying out their duty is an offence under the Indian Penal Code. It would be better for his own good if he starts behaving like a law abiding citizen and refrains from assuming that he has inherited everything that exists in the state of Uttar Pradesh.