The Hindu : National : Congress, BJP manifestos will go into dustbins, says Mayawati

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Congress, BJP manifestos will go into dustbins, says Mayawati

Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD: Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on Tuesday said both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party were shedding “crocodile tears” for the poor and the downtrodden.

Ms. Mayawati said BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani’s “sudden concern” for black money stashed in foreign banks was nothing but an election stunt.

She was addressing a public meeting here to launch her party’s election campaign in Gujarat.

Referring to the Congress manifesto, she wondered what prevented that party in power in Centre for the last five years to take such welfare steps for the poor and the weaker sections of society. “You should understand that it is only for your votes that the Congress is suddenly showing concern for you.”

Ms. Mayawati also criticised the previous NDA government at the Centre. She said that during their rule Mr. Advani could have taken steps to unearth black money.

She said both these major parties and their allies made “big promises” in their manifestos to “lure the people and mislead society.” After the elections, the manifestos would be thrown into waste paper baskets.

The BSP would contest all the 26 seats in the Lok Sabha from Gujarat. It selected candidates from all sections of society to establish its principle of “equality” for all. The party was the only solution for the overall development of society, as both the Congress and the BJP governments had “ditched” the people.

She also held the two major parties responsible for the growth of insurgency and naxalism in the country.

Ms. Mayawati said she was for giving reservation in both government and private jobs to the needy, irrespective of caste and creed, including religious minorities, but such a step could be taken only if the Constitution was amended.

She claimed she had written several letters to Prime Minister on the issue, but to no avail. If the party was voted to power at the Centre, it would take steps to amend the Constitution.

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