Lucknow: Terming mob lynching in the name of cow vigilantism as a “blot on democracy”, BSP supremo Mayawati Sunday accused the BJP governments of laxity and indifference on the issue.
“The increasing tendency of indulging in mob lynching in the name of cow vigilantism in the BJP-ruled states is a blot on democracy, yet the governments are exercising laxity and are being indifferent to it,” Mayawati told reporters.
“These activities of the BJP governments (against the Dalits, tribals, backwards, Muslims and Christians) are going on since inception and are result of the BJP’s intention to go against the Constitution and maintaining a step-motherly relationship with the Constitution. This has been the part of the basic policy of the BJP, which has assumed alarming proportions after they came to power.”
Mayawati was speaking to reporters after she moved into her new residence vacating her sprawling bungalow on Supreme Court orders.
Accusing the BJP of resorting to different diversionary tactics as 2019 Lok Sabha elections are approaching, Mayawati said the saffron party is making lucrative announcements and not leaving any stone unturned to derive advantage from the demise of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
“They never followed his (Vajpayee’s) footsteps, when he was alive,” she charged.
The BSP supremo’s statement assumes significance as Sunday marks completion of one month of death of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Mayawati said: “People of the country know that the campaign undertaken by the BJP and the RSS in the name of Vajpayee is an attempt to hide its failures. The BJP will not get any benefit from this. The people of the country now understand that none of the election promises made in 2014 Lok Sabha elections was fulfilled.”
Referring to demonetisation, Mayawati alleged it was implemented in an unplanned manner leading to “financial emergency”.
She claimed some persons also lost their lives due to the withdrawal of high value currency notes.
“It exploited the labourers, farmers, small traders and hardworking people. Time has come to seek a report. The BJP has no consolation to offer to the people in the aftermath of demonetisation,” Mayawati said. “BJP governments in states and in the Centre are trying to hide their failures by diversionary tactics. They have not fulfilled their election promises. They are trying to use former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji’s death for political gains.”
Stepping up the attack on the BJP, she said that the party failed to fulfill its promises made before coming to power.
The BSP chief also targeted the Modi government over rising fuel prices and said, “BJP government should apologise to the public for the rising fuel prices and the depreciating rupee against the dollar.”
Mayawati also attacked the BJP over the Rafale deal and said that the party is under pressure on the issue.
She further said that her party will only form an alliance if they get a fair share of seats. “We will agree to alliance anywhere and in any election only when we get a fair share of seats, otherwise BSP will contest alone,” she said.
Meanwhile, in a virtual snub to Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar Azad, Mayawati denied any association with him, days after he had claimed that he and his “bua” (aunt) Mayawati have the “same blood”.
The Bhim Army was set up around three years ago in Saharanpur and has gained considerable popularity among members of the Scheduled Castes.
The group champions empowerment of Dalits, especially those apparently disenchanted with former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati. Azad (31) walked free from Saharanpur district jail in the wee hours of Friday after the UP government decided to release him before the completion of his detention period.
“Some people in order to realise their vested political interests, some in their defence, while some in order to look young are trying to forge different relationships such as brother-sister and bua-bhatija (aunt and nephew) with me,” Mayawati said.
Her comments came against the backdrop of the Bhim Army founder, who is also known as Ravan, reportedly claiming that, “We (he and Mayawati) both have the same blood. She may have some issues with me, I have none with her. It is not in my values to speak ill of my ‘bua’ (aunt). Our only aim is to defeat the BJP.”
Referring to attempts made by Azad to forge the relationship of ‘bua’ with her, Mayawati said she cannot have any respectable relationship with such people.
“For the past few days, a man who was recently released from jail is trying to call me ‘bua’. If these people were really interested in the welfare of Dalits, then instead of resurrecting their organisation, they would have joined the BSP,” she said. Sources say Azad’s release could be BJP’s strategy to lessen the influence of the BSP in western Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. (Agencies)
