Mulayam not to celebrate birthday in view of train tragedy

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav will not celebrate his 78th birthday tomorrow in view of the Uttar Pradesh train tragedy in which over 130 people were killed. In a directive to all the district party office-bearers, Mr Yadav asked them not to celebrate his birthday. Instead, they should serve the victims of yesterday's train accident and the needy. According to party sources, "Netaji was very sad about the train accident and hence decided not to celebrate his birthday this year."

Earlier, it was also announced that both the factions of the party would celebrate the birthday separately. While the Akhilesh Yadav group were planning to hold several programmes at the newly built Janeshwar Mishra Trust while the rival Shivpal Yadav had announced to celebrate at the state party office. Till 2015, the birthday of the party supremo was celebrated only at the state office of the Samajwadi party on Vikramaditya Marg. However, on the eve of his 78 birthday today, Mulayam was present at a function to inaugurate the country's longest Lucknow- Agra expressway along with his son and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav in Unnao. In a show of family unity too, Shivpal Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav too were seen attending the function.

The last birthday of Mulayam was celebrated in a grand way in his native village Saifai in Etawah district where renowned singer and musician A R Rahman and his troupe performed. In 2014, Mulayam celebrated his birthday eve at Rampur, where SP leader Mohammad Azam Khan organised a grand function and even the SP president and other leaders traveled in a British time chariot. (UNI)