Mulayam wants to contest as PM, says LS polls ‘matter of honour’

Jhansi: Stressing his desire to contest for the Prime Minister's post, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections were "a matter of honour" for him, and asked the people to give the party a majority in the elections.

"For the first time I am saying this, the next Lok Sabha election is a matter of my honour," he said, addressing a "Desh Bachao Desh Banao" rally here, and asked the people to give SP a majority in the elections.

Mulayam Singh. AFP

"The occasion has come to remove the people who have not ended price rise and starvation in the country. The people must give SP a chance so that the country progresses," he said.

On the matter of extending support to form a coalition, the SP supremo said the party would weigh issues related to poor, farmers and youths.

Citing scams, corruption and external security, Mulayam promised to bring about a political change and called upon the young generation to make SP successful.

"We are doing politics for the people. SP is doing politics for poor, farmers, youths and women," he said.

Slamming the UPA government, he said it was so weak that it has not been able to end starvation despite the abundance of food produced.

"It is so unfortunate that despite farmers producing food grain in abundance, deaths are taking place due to starvation. This government cannot feed the people of agri-oriented country. There is no government shameless, weak and lowly than this," he alleged.

Highlighting the contribution of Muslims to the country, Mulayam said minorities should "not be viewed with suspicion".

"Farmers and Muslims have contributed 80 per cent to the development of the country. While farmers increased agricultural produce, Muslims promoted handiwork," he said.

PTI