The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday staged a state-wide dharna and demonstration against the Congress-led UPA Government accusing it of adopting a step-motherly approach towards the State. The Centre was blamed for hatching a conspiracy to keep Uttar Pradesh backward.
The BSP's protest to mark one year of the UPA Government was held on the directives of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP president, Mayawati. However, Ms. Mayawati did not lead the agitation, but preferred to monitor the protest programme through party office-bearers, who were sent to the districts for keeping a tab on the dharna and demonstration. They were directed to send their reports to the party headquarters on Saturday.
According to a handout issued by the State unit of the BSP, on account of the Domariaganj Assembly by-election on June 3, the party's protest demonstrations were not held in 16 districts situated in close proximity to the Assembly constituency. The protest programme was held in the remaining 55 districts.
Speakers at the dharna and demonstrations exposed the Centre and attributed the price rise and other problems plaguing the people to the wrong economic policies of the UPA Government. The BSP made it known that the Congress favoured the capitalist class and not the common man. Stating that the UPA Government was not inclined towards the eradication of poverty and ameliorating the sufferings of the poor, the BSP said the maximum exodus from U.P. took place during the 40 years of the Congress rule in the State.
Without naming Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi, the BSP release said the speakers assailed the narrow approach of some responsible leaders of the Congress. It said these leaders could not look beyond Rae Bareli and Amethi parliamentary constituencies, and accused them of seeking foreign aid from some “foreigners”.
The BSP criticised the UPA Government for not releasing the Rs. 80,000 crore special incentive package demanded by the State Government. The Centre was also criticised for not having paid any heed to the demand for constituting a High Court bench in Agra and Meerut. The party further attacked the Central Government for not responding to the letters pertaining to the trifurcation of the State.
