A large number police pickets were set up between Kanpur and Saifai and between Agra and Etawah to manage traffic and ensure smooth passage for the Yadav family's guests.

A large number police pickets were set up between Kanpur and Saifai and between Agra and Etawah to manage traffic and ensure smooth passage for the Yadav family's guests. A large number police pickets were set up between Kanpur and Saifai and between Agra and Etawah to manage traffic and ensure smooth passage for the Yadav family's guests.

In a gross misuse of government machinery, the state government on Saturday made arrangements to ensure that a private function - the tilak ceremony of Mulayam Singh Yadav's grandnephew Tej Pratap Singh with Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad Yadav's youngest daughter Raj Laxmi - takes place smoothly.

A large number police pickets were set up between Kanpur and Saifai and between Agra and Etawah to manage traffic and ensure smooth passage for the Yadav family's guests. Moreover, government agencies like municipal corporations, Nagar Nigams, Jal Nigam, and food and civil supplies department were involved in managing the catering and other facilities.

More than 1,000 VIPs including ministers with their official security attended the tilak ceremony on Saturday at the Safai Mahotsav Pandal.

VIPs and bureaucrats used their official vehicles to get around.

Government agencies like municipal corporations and food and civil supplies department were brought in to manage catering and other services Government agencies like municipal corporations and food and civil supplies department were brought in to manage catering and other services

Besides, the Yadav family left no stone unturned to make this event memorable. A brass-band party from Varanasi (Punjab Band) was hired to play music to welcome the arrival of dignitaries. Artistes from Jaipur were hired to decorate the stage. Singer Adnan Sami was hired to entertain guests on the previous night.

Reacting over such a display of power and money, Swami Prasad Maurya, BSP general secretary, said, "We have no objection if someone is showing his personal opulence. But we have problem if the government machinery is used. While entire state is suffering because of jungle-raj of the SP government, its leaders are misusing their position for a private function."