Newly inducted BJP leader Swami Prasad Maurya, once a close confidante of BSP supremo Mayawati, today alleged that the “BSP is diagnosed with the ‘bimari’ illness of money”.
Speaking at India TV’s Chunav Manch conclave here, Maurya accused Mayawati of compromising on the basic principles and ideology of Dr BR Ambedkar.
“Mayawati compromised on the ideology of Ambedkar, hence I quit the BSP. Money is everything for Mayawati. Politics should be based on ideology and thoughts. But when a party compromises with its principles, it is time for a rethink,” he said.
“Till Kanshi Ram was in the party, money was least important. But after 2012 polls, this ‘bimari’ (money for ticket) became widespread,” the leader, who is contesting the polls from Padrauna Assembly seat, said.
Maurya also took the opportunity to laud Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s work, terming him the first ‘PM who delivers what he speaks’.
“I have joined hands with Modiji to fulfil the dreams of BR Ambedkar,” Maurya said.
When asked why he didn’t join other political players, he replied: “Congress, Samajwadi Party was in my mind. I had even considered floating a new political party. But the Congress is neck deep in corruption. The scene no different with the SP.”
Maurya clarified that Mayawati’s denial of a ticket to him and his family members was not the reason why he dissociated himself from her.
“No party can deny a ticket to me. I joined the BJP because I was inspired by PM Narendra Modi,” he said, adding that if leaders were quitting their parties to join the BJP, it was certification of the party’s leadership.
Rejecting allegations that he lobbied for his son’s ticket, Maurya said, “I Never asked for a ticket for my son. Ticket to my son was given by the leadership. BJP had even offered ticket to my daughter but she refused. My daughter said that she feared the media would attack her father if she entered the poll fray.”
“All allegations surrounding the tickets to my son are completely false and biased. The decision was taken by the leadership,” he added.
He also accused media of playing doctored stories and suggested to ‘maintain transparency in their reports’.
“I am ready to serve the BJP without expecting anything in return. I will continue to serve the party as a worker for next 50 years,” he said.
To a question on who will be the CM face if BJP is voted to power, Maurya said, “The SP and BSP have only one face. But BJP has many faces of same stature. The BJP is a democratic party. There is a procedure which will be followed after the polls to chose the CM material.”
BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra, who was also on the panel, outlined the party’s agency for UP polls.
“BJP’s only agenda is development. The party is entering the poll fray on the plank of development and will continue to do so in future,” he said.
The BJP leader also attacked the Akhilesh Yadav government over deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
“24 rapes and 13 murders are reported daily in Uttar Pradesh,” he said and promised to bring the culprits to the book if BJP forms government.
On charges that the BJP was inducting rebellions, he said, “Leaders who are leaving other parties to join the BJP has only one meaning -- the expansion of the party’s ideology. Swami Prasad Maurya’s joining the BJP indicate that people have hope from the BJP.”
On Samajwadi Party and Congress alliance he said, “If Samajwadi Party has done development works in UP, what was the need of taking Congress party’s support?”
“The backbone (Swami Prasad) of ‘elephant’ is now in BJP, you can imagine where the BSP stands now. The ‘cycle’ won’t be able to move with the ‘load’ of Rahul Gandhi,” he added.
CM Akhilesh Yadav’s aide and legislator Udayveer Singh, who was the third speaker on the panel, highlighted that his party’s leadership took a tough stand against tainted leader by not giving them election ticket.
“People greeted the party which didn’t fielded tainted candidates. Akhilesh Yadav has taken a tough stand against tainted leaders,” he said.
To a question on the family feud and sidelining Mulayam Singh Yadav, Singh said, “Netaji is still very much in the party. He is in the margdarshak mandal.”
Uttar Pradesh polls will be held in seven phases starting on 11 February. Results will be declared on March 11.
