Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Sunday indicated that about 500 Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leaders and workers, expelled by her on Saturday for their involvement in criminal activities, were mainly “intruders,” who had infiltrated her party. The infiltration, Ms. Mayawati said, was part of a conspiracy by the Samajwadi Party (SP) and other Opposition parties.
Ms. Mayawati charged that political workers with criminal backgrounds —earlier with the Opposition parties — were made to infiltrate BSP ranks after the SP and others realised that if the criminal elements were sent to jail, it would be impossible for them to form the government after the next U.P. Assembly elections. “The infiltration constituted part of a conspiracy by the Opposition parties to keep the criminal elements out of jail,” she claimed.
'Jungle Raj'
Trying to differentiate between the BSP and other parties, Ms. Mayawati told journalists here on Sunday that the criminal elements first gained a foothold in her party and then tried to establish a “jungle raj” in the State, a trait to which they had been “accustomed during the SP regime.”
“Following an appraisal of the situation after the March 15 rally in Lucknow, directives were issued to senior leaders on April 17 to identify the criminal elements who were earlier in other parties and expel them by April 29.”
Ms. Mayawati said strict action would be taken against the expelled members in accordance with law. She, however, was unable to mention the name of any of them. Stating that there was a likelihood of some MLAs and former MPs figuring in the list, she added that when it came to taking action she was not bothered by the person's status.
A new list of party leaders and workers with criminal record was being prepared and would be submitted on May 13 to coincide with the government completing three years in office. This directive was given by the Chief Minister in her meeting with the zonal coordinators on Saturday.
Announcing the launch of a fresh drive against criminals and history sheeters, Ms. Mayawati declared that goondas, dacoits and the mafia would not be allowed to establish a jungle raj in the State, where only the rule of law would prevail.
In a bid to counter the Opposition charge that the maximum number of criminals were in the BSP, she said the three-year track record of her government on the law and order and crime front was better than the previous regime's. There had been a qualitative decline in crime ratio, she added.
