Opposition MPs stage protest in Parliament against Amit Shah’s remarks on Ambedkar
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, AAP MP Sanjay Singh and RJD MP Manoj Sinha among others also participated in the protest.
Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav welcomed the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as a Congress general secretary for UP (East).
Talking to reporters on Saturday in Lucknow, after hoisting the tricolour, the 45-year-old Yadav said that he is happy that “young people” are being given a chance.
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“Young people are being given chance. Samajwadi Party is happy. I would like to congratulate Congress party and their president (Rahul Gandhi) that they took a right decision,” Yadav said when asked to air his views on the appointment.
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He did not, however, say anything about any possible alliance with the Congress in the future but expressed hope that this decision will strengthen the Congress in Uttar Pradesh at the grassroots level.
The Samajwadi Party had recently sealed an electoral alliance with one-time arch rival BSP. At a joint press conference with Yadav, BSP chief Mayawati had lambasted the Congress stating that both her party and SP have had bitter electoral experiences whenever they joined hands with the grand old party.
Read More: Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav announce BSP-SP alliance for 2019 Lok Sabha polls | Slam ‘arrogant’ BJP
Rahul Gandhi on 23 January nominated his sister ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“Honourable Congress president has appointed Shrimati Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as AICC General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East. She will be taking charge with effect on first week of February 2019,” the party said in an official release signed by General Secretary Ashok Gehlot.
Read More: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra enters active politics, named Congress General Secretary for UP East
Priyanka will devise the Congress strategy in the region which has Varanasi, parliamentary seat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Gorakhpur, the stronghold of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
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