Spelling out her party’s strategy to consolidate Dalit and Muslims votes in upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Sunday said that the minority community should not waste their votes on Samajwadi Party as it will benefit the BJP.
Targeting the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, the BSP supremo Mayawati said it is spreading hatred and communalism in UP and has failed to keep its promises for the state.
Mayawati was addressing a BSP rally at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar ground in Lucknow on the occasion of death anniversary of party founder Kanshiram, in which lakhs of people are said to be participating.
Attacking the central government, the BSP chief said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government is spreading communalism and hatred in the country and the cases of crimes against Dalits and minorities have increased.
She said: "Dalits are being targeted in various parts of the country in the name of cow protection. Minorities and Dalits are being harassed, as BJP wants to convert India into a Hindu nation."
"Harassment of Dalits and minorities would stop in the state once a BSP government comes to power in Uttar Pradesh," Mayawati promised the one of the large party gatherings.
Maywati said the Modi government failed to fulfil its promises it made before 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
"Modi govt had promised the people of Uttar Pradesh that the down-trodden will be provided with food, water and electricity. In the two and half years, they did nothing. The farmers were promised loan waiver, but only the rich farmers have actually benefitted not the small farmers," she said.
Speaking on the surgical strikes, the BSP chief said, "It is only after two-and-a-half years of coming in the power the government decided to carry out the strikes. There have been surgical strikes in the past too, but now they (BJP government) are using the surgical strikes to gain political mileage ahead of UP elections."
She hoped to form a majority government in the state and said better law and order, especially safety of women, would be the main focus of her government.
Maywati said her party will not forge any pre-poll alliance in UP, Uttrakhand and Punjab, where elections are due next year.
Uttar Pradesh is scheduled go for polls early 2017.
