Modi Arrogant, It Doesn't augur Well For Democracy, Says Mulayam

Ghazipur (UP): Attacking Narendra Modi over the demonetisation move, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday said the Prime Minister is being "too arrogant" which "does not augur well" for democracy.

Addressing Samajwadi Party's campaign rally at the RTI ground in Ghazipur, he accused the Prime Minister of working as per his "own whims and fancies" and "cautioned" him to change his policies.

"Pradhan Mantriji ghamand me na choor hon...aaj hum unko savadhan karna chahte hain ke woh apni nitiyon mein sanshodhan karen...loktantra mein manmani nahi chalti...(The PM should not be arrogant. Today I caution him to change his policies. There is no place for individual's whims and fancies in a democracy," he said.

"This won't work...people are very wise," he said. Uttar Pradesh goes to polls next year. Samajwadi Party had won 227 MLAs in the 403-member Assembly in 2012.

"I have often said farmers and traders are like real brothers...farmers grow crop and traders sell it...but I don't know what is going on in the PM's mind...he threatens and says that honest people are sleeping a sound sleep...are we dishonest that we are opposing it?" Yadav said.

Without directly mentioning the demonetisation move, he said the BJP has taken a "wrong step" and "it is a conspiracy to ruin our traders...along with the farmers and jawans". "The country is today faced with the most challenging times," he said.

Referring to continued tension on the LoC and International Border, the former defence minister said, "We read about the situation on the borders in newspapers daily...our soldiers are being martyred while facing the challenge and I can say that it is not an unimportant thing. "When the entire country is standing in support of the Central government (over its action on Pakistan), how can Pakistan dare to do so?" he asked.

He said the Centre "is not telling" the Opposition parties about the steps being taken against Pakistan. "What will happen if the Centre calls all the parties and tells them about the steps being taken when the entire country is with the government," he sought to know.