BJP lapping up our rejected stuff: Mayawati

Azamgarh, August 28

BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday attacked the Modi government, claiming it could start a war with Pakistan on the issue of terrorism just to divert people’s attention from their failures ahead of the Uttar Pradesh polls early next year.

In an apparent attempt to downplay the exodus of senior leaders from the BSP, she said her political opponents, mainly the BJP, were lapping up “our rejected stuff” (leaders expelled from BSP).

“To divert people’s attention from the failures of BJP and the Centre, the government can go to war (with Pakistan) on the issue of Kashmir and terrorism,” she said at a rally here.

Hitting back, the BJP said BSP supremo Mayawati was depressed after “able and honest” leaders of her party were deserting her and joining the saffron outfit, which had prompted her to make “irritating” remarks.

“The troika of the Congress, the SP and the BSP has been rattled by the rising popularity of the BJP. BSP supremo Mayawati has made certain irritating remarks out of this depression.

“One after another able and honest BSP leaders are deserting her sinking ship to join the BJP. That is why she is making graceless comments against them,” BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said in a statement.

Speaking at a rally here, which is represented by Mulayam in the Lok Sabha, she said: “Both the governments have cheated the people and failed to deliver on the poll promises.”

“People have understood the designs of opposition parties, especially of the BJP. It could trigger Hindu-Muslim riot in Uttar Pradesh before the state Assembly elections and people should beware of this,” Mayawati said.

She accused the BJP of being anti-Dalit and the SP of encouraging ‘goondas and mafias’.

The BSP supremo said if her party came to power, the rule of law would once again be established in the state.

Of the 10 assembly seats in the area, the Samajwadi Party holds a majority. Mayawati is now hoping to make a dent in eastern UP in the coming state polls, and chose Azamgarh for her first rally in the region which has a significant Muslim population apart from her Dalit vote base. — PTI