Lucknow, Oct 9: Attacking the UPA government on several fronts, BSP supremo Mayawati today said her party will take a call tomorrow on whether to continue its outside support to the Centre.
“We will have a meeting of national executive tomorrow (Oct 10) to reconsider whether to continue support to the UPA government or not,” she said addressing BSP workers at a ‘sankalp maharally' here to mark the sixth death anniversary of party founder Kanshi Ram.
Mayawati, whose party has 21 MPs in Lok Sabha and is giving outside support to the government along with Samajwadi Party's 22 MPs, said the next Parliamentary polls slated to be held in 2014, may be advanced and asked her cadres to be ready for it.
“It looks as if Lok Sabha polls could be held earlier,” she said at the well-attended rally, her first major public event after her party lost badly to Samajwadi Party in the UP Assembly polls.
She attacked the government's foreign and economic policies, saying its “anti-people” decisions have added to the woes of the people including the deprived, Dalits, minorities and farmers.
On the issue of FDI in multi-brand retail, Mayawati left the door open on her party backing it.
“If the financial situation of farmers and small traders improves because of FDI, we could welcome it in future but currently we do not support it,” the BSP chief said.
Accusing the government of “lackadaisical” approach towards bringing back black money stashed away in foreign banks and various scams, Mayawati asked her partymen to work towards strengthening the organisation while warning them about designs of opposition parties.
“Since the UPA government has not done anything in the interest of the country and the people, it can go all out to woo the electorate by luring them through tall promises which will not really benefit the people. We have to remain vigilant on this count as well,” she said.
The BSP chief also said no government at the Centre has done anything for landless people in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and MP where Dalits, backwards and adivasis have been thrown out of their land.
She claimed that this has forced many to become Naxals or choose a wrong course.
Stressing that the social condition of these landless people was akin to that of Dalits, she asked them to unitedly strengthen her party so that they can improve their lot.
Criticising the statement of the Prime Minister that money does not grow on trees, Mayawati said the Centre cannot shun its responsibilities and instead of putting the burden on the poor and middle class, it would be better to pass some of the burden to the capitalists.
“It will be better to put the burden on luxury items instead on the commodities used by common people,” she said. On reservation in promotions, Maywati said her party has been fighting for it but the matter is pending in Parliament where the role of Samajwadi Party has been “disgraceful”.
