With BSP bolstering the government ahead of voting on opposition-sponsored cut motion in Lok Sabha, Congress today virtually declared a ceasefire against the Mayawati-led party it had once described as ’enemy No one’ in UP.
“In order to keep communal forces at bay, support is available to the government. We are confident of defeating the cut motion,” party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said, sidestepping questions whether the party still considered the BSP as enemy No one in UP.
Asked whether the party would thank Ms. Mayawati for her support to the government, Natarajan said, “It is not for me to thank anybody”.
Reminded about the strong comments of the party against Ms. Mayawati government on a host of issues like Dalit memorials and alleged mis-utilisation of funds under MGREGA, the spokesperson said “politics is a dynamic exercise” and whatever was said at that time was in a different context.
“We have nothing further to add on what we have said,” she said when asked whether memorials, statues and funds of MGREGA were still an issue with BSP.
To a query on what would be the political strategy of the party in Uttar Pradesh after Ms. Mayawati extended support to the government on the cut motion, Ms. Natarajan said the party’s strategy would be revealed when the time comes.
She rejected the charge that Congress adopts ‘use-and-throw’ policy as regards the support of political parties.
“Congress comes together with others on the basis of issues, not expediency,” Ms. Natarajan said. She also rubbished the charge that the party misused CBI by asking it to go slow against the UP chief minister in the disproportionate assets case.
“We do not misuse CBI. It is an autonomous, independent body,” she added.
