Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public praise for Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav as "big politics" and said that there is a need to remain "alert" on the matter.
"As per my personal view, I think there is big politics into it. There is a need to remain alert," Yadav said.
Modi had praised SP supremo Mulayam Singh at a public rally in Saroorpur village on September 11. "Mulayam Singh is in the Opposition. He criticises us. Yet, for protecting the democracy, he made every effort so that Parliament be allowed to function."
Akhilesh was speaking at the conclave summit 'Transformation of the largest state - priorities and challenges" organised by Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd.
Akhilesh said that since the Prime Minister of the country has praised Mulayam Singh Yadav, it has to be good, but made it clear that "issues and politics should not be taken as one."
Also Read: PM Modi praises Mulayam Singh, calls him respected leader
"On certain issues we can have same views, but our ideologies will be different...Things are often presented differently in the public. That is why I have asked people to remain vigilant on this issue," he said.
"On other issues, Opposition has to be taken along in national interest...Like in the Upper House where we do not have majority and so we need coordination of opposition... issues should not be taken same as politics," he said.
When asked about being publicly reprimanded by the party chief, Yadav said that Mulayam Singh was also his father and there is no one who has not been scolded by their father.
"Despite all this, we are still working together," Yadav said.
Also Read: It is an honour to be praised by PM Narendra Modi, Mulayam Singh Yadav says
The chief minister also dismissed reports that the state is being run by over four chief ministers, saying that forming an opinion on the basis of the newspapers would not be appropriate.
When asked as to why SP and BSP could not shake hands to fight BJP, Yadav said his government has worked in all the areas and when the time comes, people will compare the works of all the three governments - two of the state (SP and BSP) and the BJP government at the Centre.
When asked about reservation issue, Yadav said some "dishonest" people wanted to defame those asking for quota so that they forget about it.
On the perception that the visit of the chief minister to NOIDA was 'jinxed' as those visiting the place in the past have not returned to power, Yadav recalled that for him it had been lucky as he had started his "cycle yatra" from there and led his party to victory in the last elections.
"On returning to power, I will break this jinx in the very first year," Yadav said, adding his visit there might be linked to suspended NOIDA chief engineer Yadav Singh.
Claiming that his government had been working for the development of all sections of the society, Yadav said massive infrastructural development works have been started.
