Stressing that fundamentalists have been emboldened ever since Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state and at the Centre, Bahujam Sawajwadi Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday cautioned people against the saffron brigade’s efforts to declare India a ‘Hindu rashtra’ “where their interest will not be safe“.
“Fundamentalists and communal forces have been emboldened ever since the SP and BJP government came to power in Uttar Pradesh and at the Centre,” she said at a function on the death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram.
Sounding a warning note to her electorate, Mayawati claimed that after coming to power, BJP and its associates have been moving about propagating that they want to make the country a Hindu rashtra.
Attacks the RSS
“The Constitution has taken care that people of all religions live in the country and so the country has not been accorded the status of Hindu rashtra...if BJP and RSS turn it into a Hindu rashtra, I want to tell Dalits and adivasis that their interests will not be safe,” Mayawati stressed.
Attacking the RSS, Mayawati said there is a move to end the quota facility for the downtrodden given by the Constitution under the garb of reviewing reservation and warned of a nation—wide agitation against it if the Centre goes ahead with it.
“Mayawati will not stay silent...if such a thing happens she will lead the agitation herself...you should all remain prepared for it,” she said.
Questions PM's inaction
Attacking the Centre, Mayawati said that under the NDA rule, Muslims and secular people have started feeling insecure as BJP leaders and MPs have been going about flouting the Constitution.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, however, not taken any action against his ministers and MPs who are saying such things and this is most condemnable...several writers have been killed and some others have returned their coveted awards,” she said, adding such communal forces have stalled the programme of famous Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali in India. “I want to assure you all that once the BSP government comes to power in the state, it will invite Ghulam Ali and create an atmosphere of communal amity,” she said.
Criticizing the Maharashtra government for allowing auto richshaw permits only to Maharashtrians, she asked whether UP will ever tolerate such discrimination with their people who have gone there to earn livelihood.
On Modi’s statement in Bihar to desist from issuing inciting statements after the Dadri incident, Mayawati said the prime minister was forced to say this after the President and Vice President went public.
“But this is only a political statement and there is not an iota of truth in it,” she said.PTI
Fundamentalists and communal forces have been emboldened ever since the SP and BJP government came to power in Uttar Pradesh and at the Centre
