Madhu Trehan: Welcome to candidates 2014 on facebook Talks Live, here on NDTV. I am Madhu Trehan from Newslaundry. This is the third in our series and we will bring you more leaders as we move closer to the elections. Leaders who could play a decisive role in government formation at the Centre in the 16^th Lok Sabha even if they don’t occupy the Prime Minister’s chair themselves….just to get an idea on what policies to expect from them. Today we have the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav to take questions from facebook users, the audience here, and from me, to understand his position on policies that affect us. Akhilesh was the youngest Chief Minister to assume office in the most populist state of India. Is Akhilesh taking his father Mulayam Singh Yadav’s vision forward? Or does he have a vision of his own. What are his party’s plans for the Lok Sabha elections? It’s been two years since he became the Chief Minister and I am sure all of you have questions for him…on his politics, policies and vision. Please welcome Akhilesh Yadav.

Akhilesh Yadav: Thank you so much.

Madhu: Akhilesh what are the top three challenges that you see India faces and how would you tackle them?

Akhilesh: I wish to see the new prime minister complete five years in office. I wish to see a socialist and secular government come to power.  And I wish to see a government that can maintain good relations with our neighbours. I want the new government to understand that following the ideology of socialism and secularism is good for governence.  Because a large section of India from farmers to the youth is waiting to see new governments come to power. The government should consist of farmers and  a large section of youth. When there are discussions on poverty, questions are often raised on how to measure poverty…how are those setting the poverty line of the country actually measuring poverty? We have to introspect before the elections, did these measures truly help reduce poverty. The development and prosperity which was supposed to reach the poorest man in India…we have to see whether the challenges have been met. Also we have to introspect on governance at the centre and at the state leve. The governments that have fared well would have a special role to play in the upcoming elections. And I believe the new government ….it began with a coalition government and we have seen that coalition governments can run in a democracy. I  want  to see a socialist and secular government come to power .

Madhu: You have highlighter two issues – socialism and secularism. So do you see conflict in the policies that encourage investment and growth and policies that are for the under privileged and poor. It’s happening in land acquisition, between industry and farmers. It’s happening all the time. How do you resolve that?

Akhilesh: The present Prime Minister was the Finance Minister when our markets opened up to other countries. There were some positive outcomes of liberalisation. But the kind of prosperity that was promised…that has not been achieved. There is a large section of our population who have a long way to go before they can achieve prosperity. The unemployed youths of our country…I often mention them in my speeches in…that not only has the rate on unemployed youth increased over the years but also the rate of unemployed fathers. People like them have completed their education, did not get a job, but got married and have children. So they are fathers now but still unemployed. Unemployment is an important issue. But it cannot be solved unless we focus on farming and industrialization. Our government has to take decision and come out with policies on both these issues.

Madhu: You said that you would support a secular coalition…this means you will not form an alliance with BJP.

Akhilesh: The people of Uttar Pradesh and the people of this country understand the character of BJP very well. I have myself seen them very closely for two years. I am aware of the kind of issues they can raise and movements they can support. That’s why I said that we need to improve the economic health of the nation. The character of BJP is questionable in Uttar Pradesh and all over India. Now Uttar Pradesh is a big state. There are 80 seats in U.P and it will have a separate role in the elections. And one thing to be kept in mind is that no politician has become the prime minister of this country by avoiding Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh has given quite a few prime ministers to this country. And I think the character of BJP is being questioned in U.P and its neighbouring states. That’s why I said the new government should have secular credentials.

Madhu: You have implied that BJP was responsible for the Gujarat riots. Now please tell us…who was responsible for the Muzaffarnagar riots?

Akhilesh: There has been a lot of discussion on the Gujarat riots.

Madhu: There has been a lot of discussion on the Muzaffarnagar riots also.

Akhilesh: There has been multiple debates in the Supreme Court and among the common people of this country…everyone knows about them… about who is to be blamed. Now as far as the Muzaffarnagar riots are concerned…how the riot came about is a long story. Whenever there has been a minor issue in Uttar Pradesh, BJP has highlighted them as a major problem. The  Muzaffarnagar riots did not start in Muzaffarnagar. It began in Shamli and its neighbouring districts. And it was exaggerated to give the riot such a shape. We did whatever we could as a government. I called the forces to control the situation on time.

Madhu: Both Congress and BJP say the same thing that they aptly controlled riots.

Akhilesh: We did whatever we had to…to stop the riots.

Madhu: Tell me something…when we talk about the ’84 riots, Congress says that they have followed the due process of law. BJP says that they have been given a clean chit by SIT. You speak in you defense. But think about an average voter. What will he decipher while the political parties keep blaming each other. It doesn’t help anyone.

Akhilesh: Today the common man is aware…he is intelligent. They watch more than one news channel. And they debate on several issues. The true character of all political parties is there for everyone to see. That’s why I want to see a secular government come to power that would form secular economic policies.

Madhu: You have rejected Congress capitalism?

Akhilesh: Because the outcome of Congress in the last decade and also after giving the most number of prime ministers to this country is not great. The development and prosperity that was promised by Congress has not been achieved. And that is why they are losing from so many states. They have faced a setback in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh. Congress lost in Rajasthan. Even in the south…I agree that they have come to power in Karnataka…but they can’t think of winning in Tamil Nadu.

Madhu: So you are clear on sticking to the third front…and not go with either BJP or Congress.

Akhilesh: See the alternative that will come will consist of regional parties. Because in several states the parties in power are neither from Congress or BJP. All these parties will try to win as many seats as they can. Samajwadi Party also wants to win as many seats as possible. There will be coalition government…government consisting of regional parties. Who should form the government? As an answer to that question I would like to say that a secular government should come to power so that problems of the poor are addressed.

Madhu: Meaning non-Congress non-BJP?

Akhilesh: Till now that’s what we have tried to achieve.

Madhu: The next question is about the weavers from your state. You know there has been a problems there and many have committed suicide. What have you done to solve their problem?

Akhilesh: I belive people in Uttar Pradesh are very talented. Weavers here are clever with their hands. Every district of U.P has an economy of its own. There is chikan embroidery , zardosi work,chamki etc.

Madhu: We know all that. But what if I tell you…the sari I am wearing is a Banarasi sari but it’s made in China.

Akhilesh: I tried …there was a yojna which didn’t work out. But I will make it work in the coming years.

Madhu: The Chinese took the weavers from Uttar Pradesh…because they were starving…they took the weavers to China…learnt their craft and now they are selling Banarasi brocade at one third the price and flooding our market. So are weavers suffering? The Chinese took these starving weavers because they did not have looms. They took them to China and now they are selling the saris at one third of the price charged in India. What is the solution?

Akhilesh: From Banaras…we don’t get saris…we get raw material…we get silk. The embroidery is from Banaras. But we have to work in that direction. For example raw silk cannot be produced in Uttar Pradesh. You can get them from Karnataka. But we are also working hard. We have stated sericulture. But we don’t have the right environment to prepare the raw material for silk. Until we have good raw material it is difficult…and people from outside would come and try to take away your market. And gradually they would eye other products also and try to capture the market. China is not the only country which is taking over our market. If you look at the manufacturing sector there are several other countries capturing our market. Our government is trying its best to help improve the situation. We are providing electricity to the weavers to help them work. We have provided electricity to them just like we provide electricity to the farmers. So weavers have to pay no more than a fixed rate of electricity just like our farmers. We have taken an initiative in Lucknow over 30 acres of land.

Madhu: But weavers are still starving.

Akhilesh: No but there is work on such a large scale in Uttar Pradesh. The Banarasi sari that you were talking about…what kind of money is charged for the sari? The weavers are not making profit.

Madhu: Do you think Socialism can fix this?

Akhilesh: Why not?

Madhu: How?

Akhilesh: If the profit making is less…if the debate over who will make more profit stops. I think things would change.

Madhu: They can’t even afford a day’s meal.

Akhilesh: So now the government has come up with a scheme on a large scale so that we can buy from the poor weavers and help them.

Madhu: The Samajwadi Party has never really taken on corruption all these years. In fact your party has kind of prospered with it. But with corruption becoming an important issue for the first time… because previously there was only on…the Bofors case. Do you think with corruption becoming an important issue it would make your prospects and your campaigning more difficult and funding more difficult?

Akhilesh: See corruption is a very serious issue and there have been multiple debates on this issue. Delhi elections have been testimony to what corruption can do to a government. Those who wanted to fight against corruption left government in less than fifty days. And corruption is at so many levels…at the administrative level, in business. I am of the opinion that Samajwadi Party has tried to see to the fact that there is no corruption in our state. And our policies in certain sectors have helped abolish corruption. We have to use technology to abolish corruption. For example if we give online forms for our rojgari bhatta and make an account payment…e-payment corruption will stop. We also distributed laptops in Uttar Pradesh. We have distributed fifteen lakh laptops. Several of our schemes are now online. So now when the admission forms were submitted, in 50% of the cases people submitted the form online. Similarly we are running skill development programmes. Thirty lakh kids registered online in one month. And we also have schemes for education of girl child and another scheme for Muslim…for the education of Muslim children and their marriage…we are doing all this online.

Madhu: There is a question from the audience from Shravan.

Shravan: Sir I am from Meerut. After the Muzaffarnagar riots my Muslim friends and I look upon each other with suspicion. What will your government do in the coming years to change this attitude?

Akhilesh: See you are young and if you harbour this kind of a sentiment it is really very sad.

If we lose respect for each other in this manner then our social structure will change. If you are from Meerut you would know that a person from Meerut made an MMS. He misused technology. He sent the MMS all over and that aggravated the problem. We have to bring forward people who want prosperity and fellow felling. There are people from different cultures and languages in India. If we want to live together we have to respect each other.

Madhu: Akhilesh ji last time there was an MMS and that aggravated the riot. Do you think the same applies to Muzaffarnagar.

Akhilesh: Yes it happened because of misuse of technology.

Madhu: So then do you think social media should be controlled? Because last time the Congress government used that opportunity to put censorship and controlled freedom of speech. Do you think that’s the right thing to do?

Akhilesh: I think the people sitting here understand social media perfectly well and use it also. And social media is growing in a big way. And I think that the world is becoming more and more mysterious. No one has any idea as to who is uploading whose photo and when.

Madhu: Should it be controlled or not.

Akhilesh: See everything has a positive side to it. For example I distribute laptops. Opposition says that people are watching films on the laptops. So we should think over how we are using social media.

Madhu: Now in UP politics has always been on the wild side. A bit like Gangs of Wasseypur before you were born…the biggest gang war…I don’t know if you have heard the history of the war which took place in the 70s where two hundred people died and there was this really huge gang war that went on for two years. And it became known as the Chicago of India. Your father was worried. He didn’t want you to join politics because of this. He sent you to Sidney to study environmental engineering. It was a bit like the Godfather story where Michael Corleone was sent off to college so that you could create a legitimate business…a legitimate life. But you came back and joined politics. Was it because you wanted to or Amar Singh pushed you into it…because your father did not want it.

Akhilesh: My journey into politics is pretty interesting. People in the Samajwadi Party knows how I came into politics. I got married on 24^th November,1999. And I became a Member of Parliament after 18^th February. So if I have to blame anyone for bringing me into politics I would blame my marriage.

Madhu: But your father was against this marriage because she is a Rajput.

Akhilesh: No no as far as I know that was not the case.

Madhu: No but I thought…

Akhilesh: But you had come for my marriage. Dr Trehan was also there.

Madhu: But I was giving you accolades because I thought that you fought with your father and insisted on marrying Dimple.

Akhilesh: No no that’s incorrect. I understand this is an age of breaking news and I am thankful that when I got married the times were different.

Madhu: Your father did not want you to join the Gangs of Wasseypur. But you did.

Akhilesh: I was in Etawah back then. Then I was sent to British school in Dhaulpur. So my father sent me to the British School. Then I went to Sidney for engineering. But I did not like it. I was influence my family environment. I have seen political at home.

Madhu: Rifles

Akhilesh: That’s not there anymore. Now you will find tigers. Now people are worried about tigers. (Laughs). You are talking about Gangs of Wasseypur but there was another film that was made recently Paan Singh Tomar…it was a very nice film. In the film the character gets involved with the antisocial. Now I don’t want to name any party. But at that point the socio political situation was like that. People fought over land. So there used to be dacoits back then…and the film Paan Singh Tomar was shot in that area…and I am now making Lion Safari there.

Madhu: Paan Singh Tomar has a dialogue that the real dacoit is in Parliament.

Akhilesh: Please understand that in Parliament and state assembly…we have such an excellent democratic process. And I think there is no better way of governance than the one we have in place. The concerns of the common man reaches you. There are several neighbouring countries that don’t follow democracy. They are still fighting for democracy. So we are grateful that we have democracy and I hope that democracy will strengthen…democracy will grow on the way. There are a lot of issues in politics. But if we want democracy we have to respect each other.

Madhu: You have given ticket to Atiq Ahmed. But he is facing quite a few criminal charges. Why…because you are the new generation. You are supposed to move away from that kind of politics.

Akhilesh: I am aware that people won’t agree with me here. I know that the previous government had also levied charged against him. And there have been several allegations against him before. Our party members had several discussions on which candidate should fight from where etc. And we were told that we should field candidates who have a fair chance of winning. The people from his area wanted him. That’s why the party has taken such a decision. And since there are cases and charges…so we can’t defend him. That decision will be taken in court. You and I can’t make the decision. But I can say one thing that the previous government has framed false charges against him.

Madhu: So it’s like they are taking revenge. The political parties are taking revenge on each other.

Akhilesh: I think that phase is over when people were murdered in an act of revenge. That phase is over. Today government takes action and ordered investigation.

Madhu: Your party started with the principals of Ram Manohar Lohia. But now you have your whole family in politics, your father, your uncle, you and now your wife. So isn’t that moving away from the principals of Ram Manohar Lohia?

Akhilesh: This question has been asked multiple times to my party and to me. People who read Lohiaji know that there is a party that is mimicking his ideas these days. Lohiaji was the first one to say that the time had come throw brooms at the Congress.

Madhu: So Arvind Kejriwal is doing that.

Akhilesh: They are mimicking him. If you read history…you will find that a lot of parliamentarians back then…a lot of Congressmen in parliament said that Lohia was a dacoit. So such harsh words were used against him even though he was from Congress. If you go back to the history of Samajwadi Party, or Lohiaji or JP you will see that they were closer to the Congress party. Later Congress lost its way…the party did not follow the path chalked out by Mahatma Gandhi. The question that you are asking me, on family politics…now I have wan election, I have lost election too. I ran twice in Lok Sabha. Then I lost…then I made my wife contest. She also lost. But she contested again and this time the voters gave her a clean victory. People have brought us to power.

Madhu: We have a facebook question from Kumar Gaurav Modi. What are your views on the Muzaffarnagar riots? I think you have answered that partly. As the Chief Minister, you and your party always blame Mr NarendraModi for the Godhra riots. Who would you like to blame for riots in your state?

Akhilesh: See, whatever happened in Muzaffarnagar, was a tragic incident and I have also expressed my deep sorrow. I said that these incidents should not happened. And we did all we could do as a government. From 6.30 the riots started and by 1.30 we were successful to curb these incidents. The victims came from both the communities. But who were the victims? Those who were with them… who used to work for them… who used to help them. They belong to lower strata of the society. And the incident happened because of it. Government, later, did everything to help them.  No government has provided relief in such a big way, the way Samajwadi Party did. Supreme Court was monitoring it. Supreme Court monitored every incident…and the help of help that the government provided. As a government, we have answered the Court. Members of National Human Commission investigated. They are satisfied with our government and our investigation. All political parties, Muslim organisations…have  visited Muzaffarnager or Shamli. They have sent me their views and suggestions and I have met many of them who were satisfied with our work. And I have mentioned this several times that I am ready to accept their views and work accordingly. But there are few parties that want to play politics.

Madhu: Akhileshji we have to take a break here. The problem is, you know…  I think what you’re saying is sincere. You intend to do good things. But the problem is that the voter is hearing the same stories from all three parties. Your, the Congress and the BJP. But we will talk more about it and we will take a facebook question right after this. It’s time for the inevitable break…and on the other side we will also ask you about Crony Capitalism and the young blood in politics. What do you think of the other young people in other parties?

Akhilesh: They are good. I have worked with them in Lok Sabha.

Break

Madhu: Welcome back to Candidates 2014. We are speaking to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. We have a question from the audience. Maina from Society for Women and Child Welfare.

Maina:Akhilji, I have a question for you regarding women. What is your views on the exploitation and abuse faced by women in the Mazaffarnagar riots?

Akhilesh: You were talking about women in a larger sense. There are many schemes especially for the women. I will first talk about these schemes and then I will answer your question. Basically…we are working on education for girl child. We have provided them free education till Class XII. And thanks to our ‘Vidyadharam’ Scheme, there is an increase in the number of girls in schools and decline in dropouts. And we have provided laptops to many of them. And we also have many health schemes which are also successful working in other states. You talked about Muzaffarnagar. In Muzaffarnagar our government is helping the victims. We have helped those who are living in the camps.

Maina: I am talking about the women who have become a victim of exploitation during the Muzaffarnagar riots?

Akhilesh: Yes I am talking about the exploitation. Government has helped them. FIRs have been registered against the locals. More than 300 have been arrested and send to jails. Because women were unable to visit police stations, we have registered their FIRs in the camps. The government is investigating every FIR filed by the victims. More than 300 accused have been sent to jails. In serious cases the government has provided financial relief.

Madhu: Akhilesh is there anything you could think of, that can be done in the state of UP to change the mentality particularly of the men…the machismo. Even when you become the Chief Minister there was the celebratory gunfire during weddings. They were breaking down the stage in celebration. They were destroying things. How can you change this … is there any way you can change this machismo, this destruction… this kind of an attitude.

Akhilesh: Samajwadi Party is working for women and especially for girl children.

Madhu:But what about the mentality?

Akhilesh: I feel socially conscious people should teach morality. We at Samajwadi Party feel…only those families are happy where the women folk are happy. Families who respect their women…get respect from society. We are working towards this kind of an awareness.

Madhu: We have an audience question from Monica from the NGO named Maitri.

Monica: Which are the practices of the state government you would like to implement at the Centre and if the third front doesn’t get majority to form the government at the centre, will you support NDA?

Akhilesh: As an example, I can tell you that when a few litres of water was declared free and cheap in Delhi, it became a talking point throughout the country and the world. In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party provided free water from canal and government tube well, to famers. No one knows that. Farmers should benefit.  We samajwadis are the first to say that Himalayas should be saved, the rivers of our country should be saved and there should be greater focus on education. Sometimes people ask…what is your economic policy for his country. Our party says…food and clothing should be inexpensive and health facility and education should be free. And the countries that have taken care of their farmers, focused on education, provided good health care are the countries that have developed. If you leave behind your farmers… don’t provide them education and health facilities then your country cannot develop. And this is the story of all the prosperous countries of this world. But our own governments are decreasing subsidies of our country, unlike other countries who consistently provide subsidiaries to their farmers. How will farmers benefit? Many farmers are doing well. But many others are yet to benefit. When nothing works our economists say that monsoon should come on time. If monsoon is on time, does that mean they are looking after our farmers? No country can have a strong economy until equal focus is given to the city dwellers  and farmers. The government in Uttar Pradesh is doing that…and farmers have nothing but agriculture for their livelihood. And…

Madhu: Akhileshji we read in the news today that you have reacted to an incident in UP where some Kashmiri students were suspended after they cheered for the Pakistani students who had won a match at a university.  Do you think it was right to suspend them?

Akhilesh: I got to know about the incident yesterday and I have received more information today also. I have officially said that…

Madhu: They have been charged under sedition.

Akhilesh: I understand… I had a talk with senior officials. I told them that these kids did not realise the repercussion of their action and what kind of message it would send across to the people. Since they are students I feel that we should not frame such intense charge against them.

Madhu: But do you think that a university should be telling or anyone should be telling students how to think?

Akhilesh: I think, students should have this much of sense and I feel that while we are holding discussions at NDTV and social media with a knowledgeable and aware audience…everyone should love their countries.  We have to teach the younger generation to develop trust and fellow feeling for their countrymen.

Madhu: Are the political practice of your generation different from your father’s generation?

Akhliesh: Every generation evolves in a new way. And I have said it many times that I have learnt from my elders. When you are young you should elders in company and when you are old you should accompany the younger generation. There have been changes

Madhu: But it feels like the story is same only the hero is new.

Akhilesh: See…

Madhu: Even physical resemblance.

Akhilesh: The question is different… the question is how much have changed? Believe me, it’s an instant economy. Yesterday it came and today we are using it. It’s an instant economy. We are talking about anything that has come today

Madhu: But how do you feel, your father…

Akhilesh: When I started distributing computers people said…how can villagers know how to operate a laptop.

Madhu: No, that they know… that can happen….

Akhilesh: But… But I know that there are many people who learnt how to operate mobiles after they started using it.  There are certain things which people can learn by themselves. But there is a generation gap.

Madhu: Your father recently scolded you. They also gave you an ultimatum to stay away from these who flatter others. How does it feel like to be a chief minister and to be scolded by your father in front of the world?

Akhilesh: See, I have already answered this question yesterday. See, Netaji is the party president. Azam Khan sir and we are working together. Whatever he said was for the government and not for Azam sir.

Madhu: He said it for you.

Akhilesh: He said it to me. I am the government. When he said to me, I asked the media next morning and I think what I told you must have been in the newspapers. There is no child who never got scolded by his father.

Madhu: But he could have scolded you in private.

Akhilesh: That’s what I said. This was my next answer. I knew you would ask this question. I said that sometimes I cannot understand…when Netaji is my father and when he is the party president.

Madhu: And even he must be thinking that whether he is my child or the Chief Minister.

Akhilesh: That is obvious, he must be thinking that way.

Madhu: We take a facebook question from Vinod Kumar.  69 out of 105 portfolios are held by you and your family member. How can you administer law and order properly in your state? Will you put an end to the dynastic politics? Your paternal and maternal uncles are very entertaining for the journalist. There is some story or the other on them all the time. How can you control them? They don’t listen to you.

Akhilesh: See they are elder to me. They have much more experienced. They help us. And gain from their experience. We take advantage of it. And when we talk about Law and order, we are continuously working on it. It is true that certain incidents are exaggerated. But after the investigation when the case is solved there is no news. I can give you an example. When I said that poor MLAs can buy cars from their funds. It was highly publicised. But when I said that MLAs can spend 25 lakhs from their  fund on the health of the poor there was no news… no story in the papers.

Madhu: There is an audience question from ShivamVij.

ShivamVij: My question to you is whenever the Samajwadi party is in power in UP it is considered to be a gunda raj. Mulayamji’s own astrologer was killed. Constables fight with each other during your rallies. Guns are fired during your rally. What will be the condition of the common people? We have seen Muzaffarnagar. Why it is like this? Isn’t police in your control? Don’t They listen to you?

Akhilesh: You have done your homework. But you might have see things in Delhi. I am not trying to justify here but while watching the news yesterday I was waiting for the reporter to say that gundas were fighting in Delhi. Believe me that not even once the news channel said that hooligans were fighting.

Madhu: Because all the hooligans are in UP.

Akhilesh: No, it’s not about that. Delhi is the capital of hooligans

Madhu: We are very decent.

Akhilesh: Delhi is the capital of goons.

Madhu: That’s because of outsider. (Laughs)

Akhilesh: Development starts here. I am giving you an example. Nobody said anything about Delhi. Here there is a police in every house. The three incidents that he mentioned. Netaji’s own astrologer. You should look at the circumstances. The incident took place and there was investigation. Crime and Law and order are two separate issues. The astrologer’s death made news but I am sure Shivam did not make an effort to find out about those who were arrested after the investigation.

Madhu: But journalist have a negative bias.

Akhilesh: If  two workers fight in UP they are goons but if  a similar incident happens in Delhi then we say party  members are fighting.  Didn’t they have stones in their hands… didn’t they break the chairs.

Madhu: They did.

Akhilesh: There are many political parties who consider themselves extremely sophisticated. See, I will tell you about our problems. Taj Mahal is in UP but no one think that. Everyone says that TajMahal is in India. Indian stole our Taj Mahal. No one says that.

Madhu: One more break after which we will have few minutes left with Akhilesh Yadav where we will ask him about his father’s unfulfilled ambition. And how real it is that this might happen this time around. Be back to listen to what he has to say.

Break

Madhu: Welcome back. We are in conversation with Akhilesh Yadav on Candidates 2014 on facebook Talks Live. We will take an audience question. Amit from Etasha, an NGO that works with Slum Dwellers.

Amit: Hello sir, my name is Amit from Etasha. How can you say that you will be a better prime minister than Dr ManmohanSingh.

Akhilesh: See, we are not in the race to become the Prime Minister. But Uttar Pradesh has given many Prime Ministers to this country.

Madhu: What about your father? Your father has the ambition to become the Prime Minister. And you will support that?

Akhilesh: Netaji and all of us know that we cannot be the Prime Minister without majority in this democracy.

Madhu: Why do you call him Netaji? Why not father?

Akhilesh: Calling him father is not right because then party workers will think that I am talking to my father. Party worker should feel that you are talking to Netaji. This is the confusion. See, even you got confused.

Madhu: Your father wants to become the Prime Minister?

Akhilesh: Because elections are coming and every state wants their leader to become the Prime Minister. Because we have the elections, of course, we want a samajwadi to become the Prime Minister. But who will get the majority.

Madhu: We have an audience question from Farah.

Farah: Hello sir, my question for you is that with great pomp and show, you sold laptops worth crores. We appreciate that but did you work for hospitals, infrastructure, roads, clean water in UP?

Akhilesh: You have asked me about our entire manifesto. Yes I am working for roads, infrastructure and electricity. There are 500 new MBA seats in UP. There are three new medical colleges and three others are in the pipeline. We are working on connecting our towns with 4 lanes and India’s biggest express way. The express ways will connect the national capital to the state capital.

Madhu: I have to cut short. Sorry have to cut you. Have to go to the next question. But all the politicians are sounding alike. Yesterday even Mamata Banerjee said…I did this… I did that. All the politicians are sounding alike.

Akhilesh: 500 MBA seats have been increased. I am not lying, MCI gave us permission.

Madhu:   Facebook question from Apoorva Sharma. Was it justified to spend crores of rupees … you have already answered this… Was it justified to spend crores of rupees on entertainment when the people were suffering from extreme cold and starvation? We are talking about Saifai.

Akhilesh: I want to thank the TV channels for broadcasting it all day and putting us in problems…not only us but also the actors.

Madhu: What kind of problems?

Akhilesh: No TV channel had the correct facts. They said that so much of money was spend on Salam Khan’s performance. But he also went to a hospital and made generous donations for the heart surgeries of two children. And in the same way he gave money to AME for heart treatment… there is no news of that.

Madhu: In your state there are hospitals specialising in heart surgeries?

Akhilesh:  It is a big Medical college. 700 beds in hospital. We are also working on a 1000 bedded hospital with paramedical facilities. It would have 300o OPDs.

Madhu: You could have given money to the children without the entertainment.

Akhilesh: Saifai happens every year.

Madhu: That Salman did. What did you do?

Akhilesh: The reporters who were there wanted passes. We gave them passes. They all brought five to six family members to watch the show. And a woman journalist from an English news channel ran to Salman for his autograph. The same channel has the most number of complaints against us.

Madhu: But what was the need to do such a thing?

Akhilesh: The programme happens every year and I … the government does not organise it. It’s a youth organisation that organises it every year. The festival is for the poor. Many small shops make brisk business during the event. I have awarded between Rs 25 to 50 lakhs to the Olympic winners. There was no news of that. I rode a bicycle for 26 kms and they said that it runs on air. There is no need of peddling. This is the news. I am riding the cycle… I am sweating and you are writing all this.

Madhu: So what’s your view of Indian media?

Akhilesh: No I am not saying anything about the media. You as a media are providing me the platform to convey my message to the people. But there are few who separate good from bad. Show us the way we are. Don’t change facts.

Madhu: Your relationship with Congress has always been kind of hostile. So you have written them off for the next election?

Akhilesh: We have an old friendship with them. And when the Congress will be the weakest, Samajwadi party will be their best friend.

Madhu: Akhilesh Yadav is a welcome change from the old school politicians. But how different is he? He still has much to prove because he’s young. He may have had all the answers tonight. But questions will continued to be posed before him as we approach the 2014 elections. In this series, we will continue to bring you those who can determine what the next government of India might look like. Thank you for watching candidates 2014 on Facebook Talks Live on NDTV with me Madhu Trehan from Newslaundry. Be there. Get involved. Never do nothing. Thank you very much.