Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 6 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Minister Swatantra Dev Singh on Tuesday slammed Samajwadi Party leader Lal Bihari Yadav's remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack. He said that during Samajwadi Party's tenure there was gundagardi, corruption and loot.

He also stated that BJP has been in power for the last 8 years, and there is a peaceful atmosphere in the state along with law and order.

Speaking to ANI, Swatantra Dev Singh said, 'You have seen the administration during SP's tenure. There was gundagardi, corruption and loot. Today, BJP has been in power for the last 8 years, and there is a peaceful atmosphere in the state along with law and order....The entire country is against Pakistan.'

Meanwhile, amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar has instructed the districts in the state to conduct mock drills in coordination with the public to deal with any emergency situation.

'Instructions were received from the Government of India regarding the mock drill of civil defence. From there, 19 districts have been identified: one is in the A category, two are in the C category, and all the rest are in the B category. However, keeping in view the sensitivity of the place, instructions have been given by the government that this mock drill should be conducted in all the districts in collaboration with all our verticals - be it police, fire, civil administration or disaster department, so that we can deal with any emergency situation,' DGP Kumar told reporters here.

The Union Home Ministry has asked several states to conduct mock drills on May 7 for effective civil defence, government sources said. They said the measures to be undertaken include operationalisation of Air Raid Warning Sirens and training of civilians, students, etc, on the civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack.

The sources said measures also include the provision of crash blackout measures, provision for early camouflaging of vital installations and updation of the evacuation plan and its rehearsal.

Tensions have risen between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. The government has said that perpetrators of the terror attack will face severe punishment. (ANI)