Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Thursday cautioned the people to be wary of "Hindu-Muslim politics" of the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying it was the "last tactic" of the ruling party to ward off its impending defeat in the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
The former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh made this remark while reacting to Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's statement that preparations are on (for a temple) in Mathura as construction of temples in Ayodhya and Kashi is underway.
“The statement given by UP Deputy Chief Minister Maurya ahead of the upcoming assembly elections that temple construction is going on in Ayodhya and Kashi and now there are preparations for Mathura, reinforces the general perception of BJP's defeat. People should beware of this akhiri hatkande (last tactic) that is Hindu-Muslim politics," Mayawati said in a tweet in Hindi.
Assembly polls are due in UP early next year. The construction of grand temples is on in Ayodhya and Kashi, and preparations are on for one in Mathura (Ayodhya Kashi bhavya mandir nirmaan jaari hai Mathura ki taiyari hai), Maurya had said in a tweet on Wednesday he posted in Hindi.
Mathura is considered to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
The Mathura district administration on November 28 imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code following an announcement by Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha to install a Lord Krishna idol at the deity's actual birthplace.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has also criticised Maurya, saying the comment shows that BJP is sensing its defeat.
"This (Maurya's tweet) indicates that the BJP has sensed a sure defeat in the upcoming UP assembly elections," Yadav said to a news channel.