UNION MINISTER of Chemicals, Fertilisers and Steel Ram Vilas Paswan, on Thursday, alleged that Bahujan Samaj Party and its chief Mayawati had deviated from the original ideology of the party.
Speaking at the Valmiki and Dhanuk Samaj conference, organised by the Dalit Sena, Paswan said, “Earlier, the BSP leaders used to say ‘Baba tera mission adhura, Mayawati karegi pura’. Now, they chant ‘Kanshi Ram tera mission adhura, Mayawati karegi pura’.” He questioned whether the BSP workers were aware about the mission of Kanshi Ram.
“Kanshi Ram always targeted the upper caste for suppressing the Dalit community. He coined slogans like ‘tilak, tarazu aur talwar, inko maro jute chaar’ to motivate the Dalit community to launch movement for self respect and share in political power”, he said.
“However, Mayawati’s new slogan ‘Hathi nahi ganesh hai, Vishnu, Brahma, Mahesh hai’ is like a somersault from the earlier stand of the party. Previously, she criticised upper caste for following the ideals of Manu, now she is busy wooing the Brahmins. This is nothing but a game plan of the BSP to bag upper caste votes”, Paswan rued.
“While on one hand Mayawati says she is secular, on the other hand she calls the Muslims fundamentalists. She also accepts that the BSP transferred its votes to the BJP in the urban local bodies’ election. I resigned from the Union Cabinet in protest against Gujarat riots, but Mayawati campaigned with Modi during Vidhan Sabha election. She even tied ‘rakhi’ on the hands of saffron brigade leaders including Lal Krishna Advani and Lalji Tandon”, he said.
{{/usCountry}}“While on one hand Mayawati says she is secular, on the other hand she calls the Muslims fundamentalists. She also accepts that the BSP transferred its votes to the BJP in the urban local bodies’ election. I resigned from the Union Cabinet in protest against Gujarat riots, but Mayawati campaigned with Modi during Vidhan Sabha election. She even tied ‘rakhi’ on the hands of saffron brigade leaders including Lal Krishna Advani and Lalji Tandon”, he said.
{{/usCountry}}Paswan highlighted his efforts for the welfare of the Dalits. He said Lok Janshakti Party would raise the demand for reservation in the private sector and the judiciary. He said the Central Government should amend the Constitution and give reservation to the creamy layer.
Paswan criticised the State Government for its failure to protect Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s statue at Kanpur. The inefficiency of the government could be understood from the fact that culprits are still to be arrested, he lamented. He added that the LJP workers, to register their protest, would stage demonstration at Ambedkar statue on Friday and submit a memorandum to the Governor.
With regard to the Vidhan Sabha election, he said LJP had urged the Congress to join the Jan Morcha alliance. He said, “We will field candidates on those seats where the party has solid support base. Dalits have to come on single platform to capture political power both at the Centre and in the State.”
He announced that LJP would organise a rally at Ambedkar Maidan on February 24 to launch the election campaign of the party.