"INDIA bloc's mission far bigger than issues...": SP leader Ghanshyam Tiwari

New Delhi [India], October 22 : Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ghanshyam Tiwari on Sunday affirmed that the mission of the INDIA bloc is far bigger than the issues.
"INDIA is an alliance of parties on equal footing. It is an alliance of parties that have formidable support and leaders who have stood up for the people. This will face issues in finding agreement on issues, but the mission of the alliance is bigger than these issues the alliance partners may find. These issues will be set aside", Tiwari said while speaking to ANI here in the national capital.
Earlier, tension rose within the INDIA bloc as Congress's Uttar Pradesh unit chief Ajay Rai asked the SP to withdraw from MP in favour of the grand old party as the Akhilesh Yadav-led party, he said, did not have any base there.
Ajay Rai said, "If you (Akhilesh Yadav) are a part of the INDIA alliance, then you will have to see what the situation is in each state. In Madhya Pradesh, there is a fight between Congress and the BJP, so SP should be supportive (to Congress). They had only one MLA and there he also joined the BJP."
In this response, the Samajwadi Party (SP) President slammed Congress leader Ajay Rai for suggesting the SP should support his party in the upcoming Madhya Pradesh Assembly election.
Akhilesh Yadav, upset over Congress "turning its back" on seat-sharing in Madhya Pradesh, said, "I want to tell the Congress, don't talk about our party through your 'Chirkut' leaders."
He further said he was unaware of the fact that the INDIA bloc has been formed at the national level to defeat the BJP and the alliance partners are not fighting together at the state level.
Meanwhile, SP leader Ghanshyam Tiwari also spoke on UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's remarks on the under-construction Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
"Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in the country with the largest number of unemployed youth. If the CM is completely concerned about one project, and setting aside the fact that youth are unemployed, people are reeling under poverty, and there is danger of the state acting atrociously against the citizens, with related incidents being reported every day, it shows that the focus of CM not on day to day lives of citizens focuses on showcase projects", Tiwari said.
"I wish him all the best for the 'showcase project but he should also focus on the agendas and policies that affect the day-to-day lives of the citizens", he added.
Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh CM on Saturday visited the Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya and reviewed the progress of ongoing construction work and said that Ram temple is on track to meet its scheduled inauguration deadline in January next year.
"We are trying to finish most of the projects before Deepotsav. A moment full of pride will come for the state and country when, in January 2024, the Prime Minister will establish Lord Ram in a grand temple," said the UP CM.
Also, reacting to the alleged 'cash for query' scam, Ghanshyam Tiwari said, "An alliance of Ravan, Shakuni, Duryodhan, and Dushashan, are working against women who stand fearlessly against a government who have given benefits to its favourite businessmen. They are going pillar to post to bring down Mahua Moitra demonstrating that they are afraid and chicken-hearted. It is these people who were defeated and in today's India too, they will be defeated".
The Ethics Committee of the Lower House is looking into 'alleged' cash for query allegation against Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra.
Earlier, in his letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, under the head "Re-emergence of nasty 'Cash for Query' in Parliament", BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused the TMC member of "serious Breach of Privilege", "Contempt of the House" and a "criminal offence under Section 120A of IPC".
In his complaint with the Lokpal, Dubey alleged that Moitra received Rs 2 crores in cash from businessman Darshan Hiranandani both in Indian and foreign currencies in lieu of posing questions in Parliament.
He alleged further the businessman used the Lok Sabha logging credentials of the TMC MP while she was travelling abroad.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Hiranandani submitted a "sworn" and notarised affidavit to the Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha.
The accused Dubai-based businessman, who later turned approver in the matter, alleged that the TMC MP provided him with her "Parliament login and password" so that he "could post questions directly on her behalf when required".
In her response to the affidavit, Moitra said earlier that it was "on white paper and not an official letterhead".
"The affidavit is on white paper and not on official letterhead or notarized. Why would one of India's most respected/educated businessmen sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put on his head to do it?" she posted on X.