Amidst the arrest of several of party activists and leaders for allegedly indulging in violence in western UP during the Bandh call on Monday, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati supported the call but demanded stern action against anti-social elements involved in violence. In her response to the large-scale violence in the state, Maywati said in lucknow on Monday that anti-social elements were sent to create violence during the protests resulting in the death of some people and damage to public property. She further said that strict action be taken against those who indulged in violence during the protests. “I support the protest against SC/ST Act. I have got to know that some people spread violence during the protests and I strongly condemn it. Our party is not behind the violence during the protests,” Mayawati clarified through a statement released on Monday. The former UP Chief Minister said that the situation of Bandh could have been averted if the Centre had filed a counter against the Apex Court’s judgement earlier. “The government adopted the same lethargic approach in SC & ST Act matter just like they do during hearing of providing reservation to Dalits in government promotions. The members of the community were left with no option but to lodge a nation -wide protest and that is what they did on Monday,” asserted Mayawati. |If the government continued to overlook the welfare of the Dalits, then such agitation will be organised later on in peaceful manner,” she warned.
It may be mentioned here that besides several other party activists and leaders, former BSP MlA from Hastinapur in Meerut Yogesh Verma, too was arrested for instigating violence. He is the husband of Meerut Mayor Sunita Verma. Mayawati also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for working to ensure welfare of some select industrialists and ignoring the rights of the Dalits. “The government is promoting privatization to transfer power to some select industrialist friends. Hence a large number of Dalits were losing job opportunitites as the private sector does not implement reservation in jobs,” said Mayawati.