BSP finds way around caste rallies
The Bahujan Samaj Party will continue to hold caste-based rallies in Uttar Pradesh but these will now be re-christened “Samajik Bhaichara Sammelans”.
Justifying caste-based rallies organised by her party, BSP president Mayawati said on Sunday her rallies were aimed at uniting the nation and brought a semblance of unity among various caste groups. She said the BSP will continue to organise rallies to promote brotherhood among all castes and communities.
Addressing a press conference here, Ms Mayawati said the courts should instead ban religion-based organisations like the VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal, which run the BJP by remote control and decide strategy for the party. “These organisations also decide prime ministerial candidates and policies of the BJP and are, therefore, a threat to national unity,” she said.
Ms Mayawati also said she did not agree with the Supreme Court’s decision to ban those in jail from contesting elections. She said such a provision could be misused by political parties in power and asked the Centre to appeal against the ruling.
Referring to Gujarat CM Narendra Modi’s “puppy” remark, Ms Mayawati said he had lowered the dignity of the Constitution with his remark and should be asked to pay the price for it.
She warned her party MP Vijay Bahadur Singh, who had praised Mr Modi’s remark, and said this statement should not be construed as a BSP statement. “We condemn Mr Modi’s insensitive remark and I am warning Vijay Bahadur Singh that if he does not stop giving such statements, he will face action from the party,” she said, adding that the party had already denied Mr Vijay Bahadur Singh a ticket for the next elections.
Ms Mayawati also lashed out at the Akhilesh Yadav government in UP and said the rule of law had been replaced by the rule of goons. She criticised the SP for inducting the kin of former minister Babu Singh Kushwaha and said this proved the SP supported corruption. “If anyone was found corrupt in my regime, I immediately took action, but the SP is now adopting the same elements it had earlier opposed,” she said.
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