No Daya: Maya hard talk on loose remark

Vibha Sharma & Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

New Delhi/Lucknow, July 20

Afraid that Uttar Pradesh BJP vice-president Daya Shankar Singh’s unparliamentary language against BSP supremo Mayawati could severely harm the party’s attempt to woo the Dalits ahead of the UP elections, the BJP today expelled him from the party for six years, even as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley condemned the derogatory language.

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The regret, however, failed to douse the uproar in the Rajya Sabha. The UP Police registered a case against the BJP leader at the Hazratganj police station. The FIR was lodged under various sections of the IPC and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

“Mayawati is worse than a prostitute and has abandoned the ideals of Kanshi Ram. Even a prostitute fulfils her commitment after she is paid, but Mayawati sells the party ticket to the highest bidder,” the BJP leader was caught saying in a video clip.

WATCH: UP BJP VP Dayashankar Singh uses derogatory language against BSP Chief Mayawati, compares her to a prostitutehttps://t.co/vic0uDhbkq

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) July 20, 2016

State BJP president Keshav Maurya told the media that even though Daya Shankar Singh had apologised, “he has been divested of all responsibilities because we believe that such words have no place in politics”. 

Sources say the BSP plans to launch an agitation highlighting the recent attacks on Dalits, including Union Minister VK Singh’s comment allegedly equating Dalit children with dogs, the circumstances leading to the death of research scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad and the demolition of Ambedkar Bhavan in Mumbai.

Unfortunately for the BJP,  the comments by Daya Shankar, a Thakur by caste, coincided with the attack on four Dalit youths in Gujarat, triggering protests in Parliament. Asked if Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel, already in the dock for “mismanaging” the Patidar stir, would be removed, sources said, “She stays, for now.” 

Mayawati said she represented the most oppressed sections and had dedicated her life to them.

Jaitley said he was hurt over his party member’s comment as DMK, Congress and CPM  demanded Daya’s arrest.

"Mayawati is a big leader and comes from a small family. I did not want to hurt anyone. I regret the slip of the tongue. I never meant to hurt anybody’s dignity." Daya Shankar Singh

"I have never used derogatory or personal remarks against my adversaries. Mere expression of regret will not do... People will come on the streets." Mayawati, BSP chief

I should tell Mayawati ji the party shares her grief. I will look into the matter, we stand with her. I am personally hurt by such derogatory words." Arun Jaitley, Finance minister