Akhilesh flexible on key reforms

Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav may be strongly opposed to the foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and contract farming.

But his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav appears to be ‘flexible’ on key reforms.

Akhilesh's positive stance on contract farming and the FDI clearly indicate that the SP was ‘yearning’ to come out of its ‘traditional image’ and ‘emerge out of the shadow of the Mulayam era’.

“The chief minister holds a different view on key reforms. He feels that they must not be rejected outright. If they are in the interest of the people, they should be implemented”, said a UP minister.

Akhilesh has indicated that he was not against amending the Agricultural Produce Marketing Commodity Act (APMC) to allow contract farming in the state though he also wants to make sure that the interests of the farmers are not compromised at any cost, the minister said.

The chief minister has constituted a committee to be headed by the state agriculture minister to study the amendments in the act and its consequences.

The SP on the other hand does not appear to be in favour of contract farming. Party spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said that the SP was not in its favour.

“It will have an adverse impact on the farmers. There could be many other ways in which the government can help the farmers,” he said.

On the issue of FDI in multi-brand retail, Akhilesh has spoken differently from his own party. While the SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had expressed his serious reservation over FDI, Akhilesh had recently said he would have no problem in accepting it, if it did not affect the interests of the small traders.

The young leaders point out that it was Akhilesh who had ushered in a new era in the party by advocating English and computers.