A day after he was expelled from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for “anti-party activities”, senior leader Nasimuddin Siddiqui on Thursday hit back at party chief Mayawati, accusing her of extortion, making unfair financial demands of him, and making objectionable remarks against the Muslim community after her defeat in the U.P. Assembly election.
He also said Ms. Mayawati belittled the BSP’s founder Kanshiram during her indoor meeting on April 19.
Claiming that he had “solid evidence” against Ms. Mayawati, Mr. Siddiqui, who was known as her shadow till his sacking, said if he made further revelations it would “cause an earthquake”. If pushed further, he threatened he would also reveal the details of the person Ms. Mayawati was allegedly “planning to get murdered”.
Addressing the media at his residence here, Mr. Siddiqui also played six telephonic recordings, purportedly between him and Ms. Mayawati, while claiming he had over a 100 such tapes with him.
In the recordings, Ms. Mayawati is allegedly heard making financial demands of Mr. Siddiqui and asking him to clear the “accounts” of the member’s diary. In one such tape, Mr. Siddiqui is heard complaining to her that he was being tortured by her and party leader Satish Mishra.
Mr. Siddiqui alleged that Ms. Mayawati demanded ₹ 50 crore from him and “harassed” and “tortured” him when he said he could not manage the amount.
Soon after his allegations, Ms. Mayawati hurriedly called a press conference and dismissed Mr. Siddiqui’s charges, accusing him of being a “big taping blackmailer”.’
‘Nothing new’
Ms. Mayawati downplayed the audio tapes and said there was “nothing new in them” and that she had made comments and appeals about the party’s funding for “membership and office maintenance” even in public meetings.
“He is a big blackmailer. A taping blackmailer. He earns money through it. He was given charge of west U.P. but a lot of complaints came against him. He would tape party workers and extort money from them. How can he be trusted to fulfil responsibilities when he tapes his national president and presents it in a distorted manner?” Ms. Mayawati asked.
Ms. Mayawati also said that along with the EVMs, Mr. Siddiqui was responsible for the party’s defeat in the U.P. election.
