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In Ghaziabad, Mayawati says she has master key to UP
If Rahul Gandhi took on the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Noida, it was exactly the opposite in nearby Ghaziabad where BSP leader Mayawati launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Congress and countered his allegations. Peeyush Khandelwal reports.
If Rahul Gandhi took on the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Noida, it was exactly the opposite in nearby Ghaziabad where BSP leader Mayawati launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Congress and countered his allegations.
Mayawati primarily hit out at the Congress and the UPA government, saying it was responsible for the backward state of Uttar Pradesh which it ruled for the past 40 years.
“We had asked for a Rs 80,000-crore financial package for the state’s development but it was denied. We had to involve the private sector to invest in our schemes. We brought out a new land acquisition policy for farmers and even provided reservation in contract works,” said Mayawati.
Mayawati’s rally at Kavi Nagar’s Ramlila Maidan came a day after two successive election rallies by a galaxy of Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, in Ghaziabad.
“Rahul says I have changed after I assumed power in the state. These people were happy when I was fighting for the poor on the streets and was not in power. I should tell them that I have the master key to unlock the doors to UP,” Mayawati told the gathering.
She sarcastically appreciated the media for airing the news of the Election Commission issuing guidelines to cover idols and elephant statues in Uttar Pradesh before the Assembly Elections.
“Media wanted to project it in a wrong manner and aired a lot of news about my elephants. After 15 to 20 days, the media realised that they have contributed to free publicity of my party’s symbol. I thank them for this,” she said.
Attacking the BJP, Mayawati said during its rule at the centre, the party did not muster courage to bring back black money stashed abroad to India.
“Don’t let the Congress and the SP take power in the state, otherwise there will be a goonda-raj,” she said.
