Decision on PM after 2019 LS polls: Akhilesh

Days after Congress president Rahul Gandhi's prime minister remark, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday clarified that the next PM would be chosen after the results of 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking to reporters, Akhilesh evaded a direct reply on Rahul's statement (he might become the prime minister if the Congress emerges as largest party in 2019 polls) saying that it would be too early to say anything on the issue.

However, he added that he enjoyed good relations with Rahul. The SP and the Congress had contested the 2017 Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh in an alliance.

The SP supremo accused the Yogi Adityanath government of indulging in ''fake encounters'' and referred to the death of Narendra Gujjar, who had been arrested by the police in connection with cow smuggling in Meerut a few days back, in police custody owing to alleged torture.

“The BJP government wants to create an atmosphere of fear in the state...the law and order situation in the state has worsened even after so many encounters,” he said.

“Instead of staging fake encounters, the police should kill the dogs, which have mauled to death several children in Sitapur,” he said.

On the CBI inquiry into the sale of state-owned sugar mills during BSP supremo Mayawati's regime, Akhilesh said that more CBI probes would take place as the next Lok Sabha election draws closer.

The SP supremo also accused the BJP of trying to divide people along communal lines to gain mileage in the forthcoming LS bypoll in Kairana.

“The BJP says Pakistan will celebrate if SP wins in Kairana...I have never been to Pakistan...I do not have Pak visa....BJP should reveal who ate cake in Pakistan,” Akhilesh said.