Picking up threads from US President Barack Obama’s comments cautioning the country against a divide on religious lines, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati hit out at BJP’s communal character.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, Mayawati said even Obama expressed concern over BJP’s “divisive policy”. She went on to say that the entire country was concerned over the BJP-led NDA Government’s roadmap.
The BSP leader pointed out,”BJP’s communal and divisive face and character has notchanged even after it came to power at the Centre... This was earlier a matter of concern for countrymen and now even other countries are worried about it,” Mayawati’s statement came against the backdrop of Obama cautioning India against religious divide while addressing a gathering in the capital on the last day of his three-day India visit.
The US President had made a strong pitch for religious tolerance, cautioning that “India will succeed so long as it was not splintered along the lines of religious faith”. Mayawati said, “The US President left with much fanfare yesterday and as a parting shot gave a stinging caution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India should steer clear of religious extremism.” “It is also a matter of debate whether this statement ofthe US President is an interference in the internal matter ofthe country or whether it is praiseworthy,” she said, addingsecularism and religious independence of the country hassuffered because of a number of incidents which have taken place during the eight months of this government.
“When and how BJP and this government will be able to win back the confidence of the world and the country and carry all sections of the society along in making India successful as per the spirit of the Constitution will have to be seen,” she said.Citing the example of 2008 India-US nuclear agreement, she said it could not be implemented although the then UPA government had put everything at stake for it and now after seven years the Modi-led NDA government has also made a U-turn on the issue by supporting the deal. Accusing BJP leaders of trying to take electoral advantage of Obama’s visit in the Delhi Assembly polls, she said it is a wrong move and cautioned people against it.