The Bharatiya Janata Party was left red-faced on Monday after its Uttar Pradesh women wing’s chief Madhu Mishra said those who once used to polish boots have got a stake in power, thanks to the Constitution. Taking immediate cognisance of her comments, the party expelled her for six years.
Though Ms. Mishra did not name any community, the party perceived that her remarks could hurt the sentiments of Dalits and the OBCs, who it is trying hard to woo for the 2017 Assembly elections.
“Those who are ruling over you today with the support of the Constitution once used to polish your boots. Today they are your rulers. Why did this happen? Because we were divided,” Ms. Mishra said at an event in Aligarh.
BJP spokesperson Vijay Bahadur Pathak said action was taken against Ms. Mishra for the “controversial statement.” U.P. BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpai said: “The BJP favours social equality. The party has nothing to do with what she said.”
Ms. Mishra said she did not name or target any community. “All I said was that the Constitution gives full rights to all citizens. Everyone is equal.”
