In a snub to Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, alias Ravan, for referring to her as ‘bua’ (aunt), BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday said she had no relation whatsoever with “such kind of people.”
Addressing a press conference, Ms. Mayawati also reiterated that her party would not enter into any alliance unless she got a respectable share of seats. She stressed that the Bhim Army was backed by the BJP and warned Dalits, the backward classes and tribals to beware of “such selfish organisations and elements.”
While Ms. Mayawati did not name Mr. Azad, she made a direct reference to him and his release from jail, saying she did not approve of him calling her ‘bua’ and linking a blood relationship.
“I want to say with full honour and wholeheartedly that I can never have any relation with such kind of people,” the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said.
Ms. Mayawati said that Mr. Azad was referring to her as ‘bua’ to cover up his own faults as part of a BJP conspiracy. This was part of a long trend in which many leaders have tried to claim a “bua-bhatija” or “bhai-behen” relationship with her, to project themselves as “young.”
Incidentally, while Ms. Mayawati did not take any names, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has also referred to her as ‘bua’ and her comment is also being interpreted as directed at him.
Targeting the Bhim Army, Ms. Mayawati said, if they were “true well-wishers” of Dalits they would not need to form a “separate organisation” and they would work under the banner of the BSP and carry forward the movement of Bhimrao Ambedkar and Kanshiram.
Seat share
Ms. Mayawati said the BSP will enter into an alliance with a party or have an understanding for the Lok Sabha poll and the upcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh only if it is given a respectable number of seats. “Otherwise our party considers it better to contest alone,” she said.
Soon after his release from jail on Friday, Mr. Azad, who was detained under the NSA in connection with last year’s Saharanpur caste violence, said he had no personal issues with Ms. Mayawati despite her dubbing his outfit a BJP proxy.
He went on to praise her, referring to her as ‘bua’ for the work done for the Bahujan Samaj.
