FLASH | Sunday, June 14, 2009 | Email | Print | 
BSP's counter to Congress' message on Rahul b'day fete
PTI | Lucknow
The ruling BSP in Uttar Pradesh had decided to launch a campaign against "casteist forces" on Rahul Gandhi's birth day in a counter to Congress' plans to celebrate it as Samrasta Diwas (harmony day).
During a meeting yesterday, BSP supremo and Chief Minister Mayawati directed party functionaries to hold public meetings and cadre camps in all districts on June 19 when Congress has planned to organise community feast in Dalit localities to celebrate party's revival in the state as part of the birth day celebrations.
The BSP would launch a nation-wide "Sharm Karo Diwas" against "casteists forces" and it has started distributing a booklet citing reasons behind organising the campaign.
"If Congress, BJP and their allies had not contested recent Lok Sabha elections with a tacit understanding and casteist mentality, no one could have stopped Dalit's daughter Mayawati from being the prime minister," the BSP booklet said.
It alleged that as part of a bigger political conspiracy, Congress and BJP prevented formation of a BSP-led government at the Centre. moment in Indian politics. "In a bid to woo SC/ST communities, opposition parties are staging a political drama by visiting houses of Dalits and organising samrasta programmes," the party booklet said.
"Indulging in such type of drama is an old habit of rival parties. Even Gandhiji practised such tactics throughout his life," BSP alleged.
Reacting to BSP booklet, Congress said derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi was indicative of Mayawati's frustration.
"By deciding to organise awareness campaign on June 19, the BSP has proved that it was wary of the increasing popularity of the Congress in UP," party general secretary Subodh Srivastava today said.
He said the BSP was late to organise Sharm Karo Diwas.
"The party should have observed Sharm Karo Diwas when the results of Lok Sabha polls were announced wherein Mayawati and her party were rejected by the people of the state. That was a day of shame for BSP," Srivastava alleged.
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