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Next on the cards are two centres of excellence for fruits and vegetables in Uttar Pradesh under an Indo-Israeli project being administered by the Centre. One of these will come up at Kannauj, the Lok Sabha constituency of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav.
The SP has never shied away from voicing its sentiments in support of the Palestinian cause. In 2006, the party had even demanded that the Israeli embassy in New Delhi be shut down in the wake of Tel Aviv’s airstrikes against Palestine and Lebanon.
SP general secretary Mohan Singh said on Monday that Shivpal Yadav’s Israel visit was only to scout for the best irrigation technologies for the state, and was linked to his portfolio. The party, Singh said, would always support the Palestinian cause.
“Several times our party has passed resolutions in support (of Palestine). We continue to maintain our support,” Singh said.
Confirming that talks were on with Israel for the centres coming up in Uttar Pradesh, O N Singh, mission director of the state horticulture mission, told The Indian Express: “We have already had a first round of discussions with representatives from Israel regarding these centres under the Indo-Israeli cooperation programme. While land is already available for another centre proposed at Basti, we need to acquire six hectares in Kannauj as we have only about four hectares available with us so far.”
The SP’s move is a change to say the least from the usual tendency of political parties to raise the Israel bogey to underline their “secular credentials”. Even Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had succumbed to the temptation, ridiculing the poll promise by some BJP leaders to bring drip irrigation technology from Israel to water-scarce Bundelkhand.
The SP is confident Shivpal Yadav’s trip will not hurt its pro-Muslim image. “He had not gone to Israel on a religious or political tour. It was a visit to understand practices in the field of water resources and irrigation management in Israel, which are supposed to be the best in this sector. This is not going to affect Muslim support to the SP at all. The Muslims of this country are well aware of the SP’s secular beliefs and Mulayam’s secular credentials and the SP, in turn, is always working to address issues of their interests,” the SP Uttar Pradesh unit spokesperson, Rajendra Chaudhary, said.
State government sources said Israeli representatives working in the irrigation sector had called on Shivpal Yadav and urged him to visit the country to know more about the technologies being used there and their potential for UP. The efficiency of water use in irrigation in the state is considerably low.
“We are exploring various professional and technological options to improve the state’s irrigation system, water conservation and water recycling. Firms in Israel, in particular, possess world’s best technology in this sector. So we took a visit to understand the practices and technologies there,” Deepak Singhal, Principal Secretary, UP Irrigation Department, who accompanied Shivpal Yadav on his visit to Israel, said.
Only India is a secular (pro muslim) country . In west they are identified as "non civilized". I strongly believe that the visa and business restriction will get tougher and toughter for India, if India does not stop its "pro muslim" politics and does not behave as a "added value* partner for west
he just wants holidays in israel and gave name to visit their irrigation system. shivpal is one of the biggest buffon in SP party who cannot even speak hindi let alone any other language. he may teach israelis how to steal from their government.
For Mulayam, Lalu & Congress in particular Vote Bank is more important than National Interests. These bogus and self appointed secular contractors are ruining the social fabric of the country. All these parities openly participated in the Auction of Minority Votes during elections and SP won the bid for bidding highest price of 18% reservation in jobs. Although ground reality is different. Unfortunately Minority leaders have always struck deal for their own interests rather than the interests of the community. Anyway, minority community has to break the shackle and should come out openly against leaders like Mulayam, Lalu and entire Congress which only believes in Divide & Rule. Israel is not going to swallow India instead it would be helping India to progress by leaps and bound. Politics of Vote Bank has to be buried and this can be done by Minority only.
Not that I am against any ties with Israel but for people and parties wearing secular cap any contact with ISRAEL HAS BEEN A TABOO. Now SP will be asked by its Muslim friends to explain this shift. The visit also proves that SP's support to Palestine cause and its avowed policy of Muslim welfare are all sham and a facade to garner their votes.
Well, I am a muslim and not against ties with Israel. No sensible muslim is against buying tecnology from Israel and at the same time support Palastine cause as well.
Indias double standards, they want all the goodies from Israel but at the end of the day abuses Irael of all wrong doing, such hypocrites
If we take goodies from them, we pay for it or reciprocate in other ways.
There is limit to appease Muslims for votes. SP seems to be another communal party. For each and every issue they think whether it will anger muslims for selfish. Secular muslims will understand very well about the motive of SP and will teach lesson.
