After Akhilesh, Shivpal blames media for ‘blowing’ criminal incidents out of proportion

Etawah (UP)/Jamshedpur: After Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, his uncle and PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav also criticised the media for "blowing" criminal incidents out of proportion while ignoring them in other states. "Uttar Pradesh is a big state but when compared, the incidents of crime and rape in other states is more, than here, but the incidents taking place here are blown up by the media", he told reporters.

Yadav was here to take part in a board meeting of Zila Sahkari bank.

The chief minister on Tuesday accused the media of highlighting rape cases only in Uttar Pradesh and ignoring those happening in other states.

Without naming, the minister also attacked a political party for trying to tarnish the image of the SP government.

"With an aim to tarnish the image of the government, members of a particular political party are taking to the streets and creating chaos," he said on Thursday.

The Public Works Department (PWD) minister said that to improve the law and order situation officials are being pulled up and several orders have been issued to remove lax officials in the districts.

Yadav said that officials will be answerable to the incidents taking place in their districts.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Commission for Minorities Shakeel Ahmed said the state would soon emerge as the "most peaceful and developed" state in the country.

Ahmed, who was in the steel city on Thursday, said UP was being highlighted for the negative cause rather than the good work done by the ruling Samajwadi Party there.

He said, "it is not only Uttar Pradesh but such incidents are taking place everywhere but media do not bother to highlight them."

In a reference to the Badaun gangrape incident, Ahmed said the state government swung into action immediately and arrested the culprits.

Lauding the state government's performance, he said the SP government has announced reservation of 20 per cent fund for the development of the minorities in all sector in the state.

He, however, admitted that the state government failed to publicise its good work and achievements.

Ahmed also said that most of the riots-hit victims in Muzaffarnagar district have been compensated adequately.

"Majority of the riots victims, who were living in the relief camps, have been adequately compensated by the state government but they still continue to live there," he said.

The majority of the riot victims were given a government job, Rs 12 lakh compensation, pucca house among other relief measures, but they are still residing in the camps, he said while accusing the opposition parties of politicising the issue.