Claiming that her party’s caste-based rallies (“bhaichara sammelans”) were aimed at uniting all sections of society, Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati has demanded a ban on the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the RSS and the Bajrang Dal, which “professed the cause of a particular section.”
Last week, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court had imposed a ban on caste-based rallies in the State.
There are many religious organisations like the VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal, which not only decided the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strategy, but also finalised the names of its Chief Ministers and the prime ministerial candidate. These and other organisations whose basis is religion should be banned by the courts and should not be allowed to indulge in dirty politics,” the BSP president said.
Stating that politics along religious lines should not be permitted, Ms. Mayawati was hopeful that the court would take notice of her plea.
Referring to the High Court’s ruling, the BSP president denied that the ‘bhaichara sammelans’ were divisive in nature. “Their aim is not to divide, but unite all sections and promote brotherhood (“aapsi bhaichara”), as apart from being a political party, the BSP also espouses the social cause,” Ms. Mayawati said.
But, even as Ms. Mayawati agreed to ring in changes following the High Court verdict, she said that henceforth “sarv samaj samajik bhaichara” (brotherhood of all sections) sammelans would be held. The “varna” system bred “inequality and hatred” and the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), which had been the most oppressed, suffered the most. The BSP’s campaign for social change would continue till inequality was removed, she added.
“Verdict unacceptable”
On the Supreme Court’s verdict on the disqualification of convicted MLAs and MPs, the BSP chief urged the Centre to file an appeal against the ruling. Ms. Mayawati said the apex court’s ruling was unacceptable.
She hit out against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on his “puppy” remark. In this context, Ms. Mayawati served a final warning to the BSP MP from Hamirpur, Vijay Bahadur Singh, who had supported Mr. Modi. What the MP had said was his individual opinion. “If Mr. Singh in future fails failed to observe party discipline, he will be expelled.”
Without naming BJP’s Amit Shah and Congress’ Madhusudan Mistry, who had visited Ayodhya and Faizabad recently, Ms. Mayawati slammed both parties for raking up the Ram Janmabhoomi/Babri Masjid issue for polarising “Hindu and Muslim votes”. Stating that the move posed a danger to the secular fabric of the country, the BSP president urged the Supreme Court to take stern measures and restrain both parties from spoiling the atmosphere.
Kushwaha issue
Ms. Mayawati ridiculed the ruling Samajwadi Party for inducting the kin of former Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha (jailed on corruption charges), and said the party had lost the moral right to speak against corruption. Attacking the SP government for the collapse of law and order in the State, the BSP chief reiterated her demand for imposition of President’s Rule.
Condemning the recent terror attack on Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, Ms. Mayawati assailed the political parties for politicising the issue. Supporting the demand for a Telangana State, she added that the BSP would back the proposal moved by the Centre.
