Calling Union Government’s Food Security Bill a poll gimmick Bahujan Samaj party national president Mayawati said that if BSP comes to power post-lok Sabha elections economically backwards among upper castes will be given reservation.
"The freebies do not help society. What helps people is economic independence which BSP promises to give if it comes to power at the centre. Our party believes in the welfare of sarv samaj and therefore will ensure reservation for upper caste poor, muslims and backwards," Mayawati said while addressing a Brahmin Samaj Bhaichara Mahasammelan held at the Rama Bai Grounds here on Sunday.
It was a clear show of strength where BSP tried to send message across to its detractors about possible alignment between Dalits and Brahmins. In 2007 she swept UP assembly polls riding on this social alignment but when Brahmins parted ways in 2012 her party lost. With an eye on lok Sabha elections this mahasammelan was an attempt to revive dalit-brahmin truck.
In her almost an hour long speech she dwelt on the benefits of Sarv samaj and how her government had worked painstakingly to promote upper caste and Muslims. "I am in favour of reservation for Muslims and upper caste poor. I request upper caste to support BSP in the next General Election so that BSP could become a political force post elections," she said as workers shouted Behanji tum sangharsh karo hum tomahre saath hain.
The blowing of conch shells enthused Mayawati who stopped for few minutes allowing workers to raise pro- Brahmin slogans. "Do not get swayed by opposition canard. In last assembly elections you were misled by opposition lies and we failed to perform as per our expectations. Those forces are out again. Beware of them," she said reminding upper caste that they did not vote for BSP in 2012 UP polls.
Hitting out at UP Government she said that development work has come to a naught. The mafias are calling the shots while ruling leaders are giving political protection to these goons. Charging the Samajwadi Party government for implicating senior BSP leaders in corruption charges,
Mayawati said: "As present government has nothing to do it is acting against political rivals."
"The dalits, poor, farmers, traders, employees are being harassed in the state as government machinery has totally collapsed" former Chief Ministers aid and added: "Even Mulayam Singh Yadav has castigated his son's government for its failures." Earlier welcoming Ms Mayawati, BSP general secretary and head of the party's Brahmin Bhai Chara Committee Satish Chandra Mishra said that Brahmins have been cheated by the political parties in the past and only BSP during its rule in UP between 2007-12 had given due respect to the community.
'' Brahmin are 16 per cent of the population but they were used as a vote bank by BJP and Congress and only cheated them for their vested personal interest,'' he claimed while going to an extent of saying that if BJP can cheat lord Ram then how can they spare the brahmins and other communities.