Maya tars all with the same brush

LUCKNOW: Launching a frontal attack on the BJP BSP chief Mayawati today alleged that the Narendra Modiled government at the Centre was contemplating the abolition of reservation

Updated At : 06:55 AM Aug 22, 2016 IST

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in Lucknow on Sunday. PTI

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, August 21

Launching a frontal attack on the BJP, BSP chief Mayawati today alleged that the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre was contemplating the abolition of reservation.

Addressing a massive “Bahujan Hitai, Bahujan Sukhai” rally at Agra’s Kothi Meena Bazaar Maidan, Mayawati formally launched the BSP’s 2017 election campaign.

Accusing the BJP of rising atrocities on Dalits and minorities, Mayawati said Modi’s words should match punitive action against the guilty if he wants to protect Dalits from mounting atrocities.

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To show how atrocities against Dalits were increasing on all fronts, she quoted some recent cases, including the circumstances leading to the suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula, thrashing of Dalits in Una and expelled BJP leader Daya Shankar Singh using abusive language against her.

Accusing Modi of claiming power on the basis of false promises, Mayawati said his government had not only comprehensively failed on all fronts, but it was also now banking on communal polarisation to save its skin. Not sparing the RSS either, Mayawati said while the BJP’s policies had not been able to control prices and address poverty, the RSS was asking Hindus to produce more children. She also attacked the SP government on the law and order front, saying only the BSP could rescue the people from the prevailing “jungle raj”.