Calling for Opposition unity to take on the BJP in the coming elections, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said that she was not averse to stitching an alliance to halt the saffron outfit’s juggernaut in the state.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion of 126th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar in lucknow on Friday, Mayawati said, ‘’The BJP has always ditched and misled Dalits for its political gains. The party was enacting a drama to claim that they were the only honest people in the country and the Opposition leaders were corrupt.”
“Ninety per cent of the Sikhs, Muslims, Parsis, Buddhists Dalits and Backwards have been denied their rights by upper castes. Kanshi Ram took the pain to unite them. But unfortunately, ‘manuwadi’ forces have once again created differences,’’ she said.
“The BJP had openly supported the anti-Mandal movement after dislodging the VP Singh government which shows their anti-Dalit attitude,’’ Mayawati said.
Announcing to suspend the BSP’s protest against Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) till the Supreme Court gave its verdict on the issue, Mayawati continued her attack on the BJP on the issue and claimed that in UP, the party had won 250 seats of the total 325 by tampering with the EVMs.
She also thanked the party rank and file for holding a massive protest against the use of EVMs in elections on April 11.
The BSP chief also alleged that the Modi government was misusing government machinery against her and her family members.
“like 2003, the present BJP government was doing every thing to tarnish my family’s image and harass them,” she said.
The BSP chief has been under fire following a recent decision of the Yogi government to order probe into the sale of sugar mills and construction of memorials under her regime.
Mayawati said, “I’m being targetted under a conspiracy so that I stop speaking on the EVM tampering issue by BJP. It is being projected as if I was responsible for the sale of 21 sugar mills. Thefact is that I never held the sugar department. It was headed by Naseemuddin and decisions were taken by the cabinet.”
Trying to counter the Assembly poll results which indicated Dalits deserting her as she tried to woo the Muslims, Mayawati made it clear that it was a misconception being spread by the BJP.
“Dalits have voted en masse for me along with Muslims as they know very well that a BSP government was always pro-Dalit and pro-Muslim,” she added.
Sharing her medical condition with workers for the first time, she said that a gland in her throat had to be removed in 1996 which forced her to read written texts.
“One of the two glands in my throat was removed by doctors in an operation and so I can not stress my vocal chord too much,” Mayawati said.
Asking party leaders and workers to camp in their areas from May 1 and spread the party’s base, Mayawati exhorted them to go before the people and raise their issues before the government. She however warned leaders not to meet any BJP MlA, MP or minister to seek their advice.