Now We Have to Tell CBI How Many Seats We Have Distributed in Gathbandhan, Says Akhilesh on Raids

New Delhi: Not daunted by the CBI raids in the illegal mining case, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took a dig at the premier investigating agency on Sunday and asked if he now will have to tell the probe agency details of his alliance with Mayawati.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), once bitter rivals, have agreed in principle to form an alliance in the coming Lok Sabha elections and a formal announcement on the gathbandhan (alliance) between them may take place later this month, say reports.

SP president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati had given their “in principle approval" to the alliance after a series of meetings, said SP national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary.

Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. The opposition parties defeated the ruling BJP in three Lok Sabha bypolls in 2018.

Exuding confidence, former Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh said he is ready to face the CBI, but people are also ready to answer the BJP.

"Now we have to tell the CBI as to how many seats we have distributed in the gathbandhan (alliance). I am happy that at least the BJP has shown its colours. Earlier, the Congress gave us the chance to meet the CBI, and this time it is the BJP, which has given us this opportunity," Yadav said.

"The Samajwadi Party is making efforts to win maximum Lok Sabha seats. Those who want to stop us, have the CBI with them. Once the Congress did CBI probe, and I was questioned. If the BJP is doing all this, the CBI will question me, I will answer (them). But, the people are ready to give an answer to the BJP," he added.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister may face a probe by the CBI, according to the agency FIR made public Saturday.

The agency also raided 14 locations in connection with the FIR against 11 persons to probe alleged illegal mining of minor minerals in Hamirpur district during 2012-16.

"Why is the CBI conducting raids. Whatever they want to ask, they can ask me. However, the BJP should remember that the culture it is leaving behind, it may have to face it in the future," he said.

On possibility of the Congress joining the alliance, Yadav said a decision will be taken by him and Mayawati. He declined to elaborate further.

"The BJP has taught us alliances and we are walking on the same path. We are trying to form an alliance with the BSP. The aim of the Samajwadi Party is to bag maximum number of seats but the ones who wish to stop us, they have the CBI," he said.

Terming the raids politically motivated, Yadav also questioned the credibility of the CBI.

Hitting back, the BJP said Akhilesh Yadav's government was "hand in glove" with the accused in the illegal mining case.

Rejecting Yadav's allegation of vendetta, UP minister Sidharth Nath Singh said, "If you loot public money, then law will take its own course."

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Singh said instead of questioning the time of the raids, Yadav should answer why so much "loot" had happened under his government.

Congress's Kapil Sibal also attacked the BJP, saying that whoever spoke against it was raided.

The Apna Dal, a significant player in the state politics, is also in talks to be a part of the SP-BSP alliance. It is also talking to the BJP and its chief Krishna Patel said it will tie-up with like-minded parties.