The Uttar Pradesh Assembly witnessed a heated exchange of words between Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya over the government spending.

Participating in the discussion on the governor’s address, Maurya said during his speech in the House, Yadav was “praising” the work done in the state when he was the chief minister. “If his work was of any good, people would not have cleaned up the SP’s mess in the election,” the BJP leader said.

On Yadav’s claims of launching various schemes during the SP regime, Maurya said, “The leader of the opposition does not get tired of counting the achievements of his five-year tenure. Which disease do you have? If there is any disease, I would say that you get tested.”

“I would request that the Leader of the Opposition should get proper treatment from wherever he wants. Get rid of this disease of pasting a sticker of the Samajwadi Party on every scheme. You have been out of power for five years. Now, out again for five more years. Your number will not come for the next 25 years,” he added.

The deputy chief minister, who was speaking after Yadav’s address, said, “Who has made the roads, the expressway, the metro? … It seems all of this has been built by selling your land in Saifai.”

Irked by these comments, Yadav hit back at Maurya and the SP members also stood behind him.

Saifai in Etawah district is the native place of Yadav.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had to intervene, saying unparliamentary words and threats should not be made part of the proceedings as it would set a wrong precedent.

“Using indecent words against a respected leader is not right. I would very politely say to the leader of the opposition that you should not have been so agitated. The question is not of Saifai. The development work that we are getting done or the development work that might have been done during your government was our duty being in the government. The government has the right to declare its achievements,” said Adiyanath.