BJP hits the streets in UP over BSP leader’s remark on Dayashankar’s family
BSP national general secretary Siddiqui and other party workers allegedly demanded that Dayashankar’s wife and daughter her be “presented” before them.
BJP leaders and workers on Saturday held protests across Uttar Pradesh demanding action against Bahujan Samaj Party leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui for using ‘indecent’ language against the family of its expelled leader Dayashankar Singh.
The Bharatiya Janata Party expelled Singh, who triggered a storm after comparing BSP chief Mayawati to a prostitute, from his post of the vice-president of party’s state unit. But BSP leaders protesting against Singh’s remark retaliated with remarks directed at the Singh’s minor daughter, wife and his mother.
BSP national general secretary Siddiqui and other party workers allegedly demanded that Dayashankar’s wife and daughter her be “presented” before them.
The BJP quickly decided to hit the streets with the slogan – ‘Beti ke samman mein, Bhajapa maidan mein (BJP on the streets for daughter’s honour)’.
They were stopped by the police near Raj Bhawan in Lucknow as they threatened to gherao the chief minister’s residence if they did not initiate any action against Siddiqui and other BSP leaders.
Raising slogans against the BSP, BJP workers entered into a minor confrontation with the police. They relented for a while only to launch another protest from Kaiserbagh – where the party’s city office is located.
“Our cadre is protesting across the state. We took action against our leader for the remark. Now, we expect her (Mayawati) to take a similar action against her party leaders for their even more shocking conduct,” Abhijat Mishra, general secretary of BJP’s youth wing who took part in Saturday’s protests, said.
In Bareilly, around 150 supporters of BJP MP Dharmendra Kashyap and party lawmakers Arun Kumar and Chatrapal Singh led the protests.
The expelled leader’s mother and wife also alleged intimidation and threat to their lives and even filed an FIR against Mayawati, Siddiqui and other leaders and workers of the BSP.
State BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya said he was shocked at the BSP leader’s conduct.
“In full public view, top BSP leaders demanded that the wife and daughter of former BJP leader be brought before them. What was their fault? And is this the way the leader of a party that has a woman chief should conduct himself?” Maurya asked.
Dayashankar’s remarks have triggered massive protests and a political storm in Parliament with all parties coming together to back Mayawati.
His comments have taken a political colour ahead of assembly polls in the state early next year as the Dalit community forms more than a fifth of the state’s population and is likely to prove crucial.
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