BJP leaders get cash garlands too: Mayawati counters Modi’s ‘notes ki mala’ jibe

BSP national president Mayawati played the ‘Dalit ki beti’ card on Monday to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s veiled allegation that she wore ‘notes ki mala’ (cash garland).

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) national president Mayawati played the ‘Dalit ki beti’ card on Monday to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s veiled allegation that she wore ‘notes ki mala’ (cash garland).

BSP chief Mayawati addresses a press conference in Lucknow on November 14. (PTI)

“The leaders of BJP too get cash garlands from their supporters at public meetings, but there is hardly any brouhaha over it. However, there is much clamour by the BJP leaders over the cash garland given by BSP supporters to the party chief. It clearly shows the anti-Dalit mentality of BJP leaders,” she said at a press conference at her official residence in Lucknow.

Mayawati claimed the cash garland given to her was put together with the hard earned money of party workers.

She advised BJP leaders to desist from making personal attack on the leaders of Opposition parties. “Rather, they should target the policies of rival political parties,” she said.

Mayawati was reacting to the PM’s statement at a public meeting in Ghazipur, where he said leaders who took cash garlands were feeling the heat after his drive against black money.

Terming the PM’s statement malicious and objectionable, Mayawati said, “It clearly shows that Modi’s anti-Dalit attitude has not changed. The PM is beleaguered by his immature decision to scrap the high value bank notes. He gave a clarification about his decision in the public meeting.”

Mayawati said while the BSP welcomed the PM’s drive against black money, corruption, loot of public money and money laundering, it opposed the harassment of common people.