Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Thursday alleged that the Election Commission has an anti-Dalit mindset and that was why it had stopped her from campaigning in Agra, considered the ‘Dalit capital’ of northern India. She also claimed that BJP leaders are taking the Army’s name in their poll speeches violating the model code of conduct, but the EC is keeping mum. The BSF president also targeted the proposed minimum income or ‘NYAY’ scheme as a ‘jumla’ (gimmick) of the party.
Ms. Mayawati was in Gopalganj, Bihar, to campaign for her party candidate Kunal Kishore Vivek. Five other Lok Sabha candidates named by the BSP for Bihar were also on stage while the party president was addressing a poll meeting.
“The Election Commission, which has an anti-Dalit mindset, stopped me from campaigning in the capital of Dalits, Agra. The victory of BSP candidates in order to form its government at the Centre will be the appropriate reply to the Commission,” she said at the poll meeting here.
The EC had imposed a 48-hour ban from 6 a.m. on Tuesday on Mayawati on campaigning for her “provocative” communal remarks which, it said, had the “propensity to polarise the elections”.
The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister was scheduled to campaign in Agra on Tuesday.
Attacking the Congress on Thursday, she said, “We do not believe in jumlas like the Congress, which promises to provide ₹6,000 as minimum income. We will give permanent jobs to farmers in government and private sectors if BSP comes to power at the Centre.”
“The BSP has not come out with any manifesto as it does not believe in making making mere announcements,” she said, adding that it wants to carry out development works.
“Parties like the Congress and the BJP release their manifestos during poll time and forget its promises later,” Ms. Mayawati alleged.
‘Chowkidari won’t work’
All these ‘jumlebazi’ and ‘chowkidari’ will not be able to save the BJP government. It is because of the BJP that the private sector follows no reservation policy, she claimed.
The BSP leader asked women to prepare food for the men in the family only when they come back home after exercising their franchise.
