Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet expansion, BSP chief Mayawati on Tuesday dismissed it as mere “election theatrics”, claiming it was done, keeping in mind the upcoming elections in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
She said the BJP government was following the path of the previous Congress regimes, which she claimed also engaged in “drama” before polls.
The former U.P. Chief Minister said the inclusion of a few handpicked faces from some weaker sections was merely to cover up the neglect of these communities and a favour given to “big corporates.”
Ms. Mayawati said allotting “two-three small ministerial berths” to leaders from weaker sections would not do any good to “socially and economically uplift” the people of these communities.
“In its two years of rule, the BJP government has only worked for and in favour of big corporates. While on the other hand, it has totally disregarded public welfare and public interest through its neglect of the poor, the backwards, Dalits, workers, farmers, Muslims and other religious minorities,” Ms. Mayawati said.
She said the BJP government must take honest and concrete steps to improve the condition of these people and their long-term welfare. “But it is clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention has not yet been drawn to that,” she added.
