Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday accused Congress, BJP and Samajwadi Party of being anti-Ambedkar. She alleged the Women's Reservation Bill would not benefit SC/ST, other backwards, religious minorities and poor women of upper caste.
During a meeting of party leaders, including ministers, MPs and MLAs, Mayawati alleged policies and behaviour of all opposition parties, specially Congress, had always been anti-Ambedkar.
"This was the reason he (Ambedkar) was forced to sign Pune Pact (under which Dalits agreed to reservation of SC/ST seats for Lok Sabha poll and gave up demand for separate electorate) and was not conferred with Bharat Ratna by the Congress government," she alleged. She charged the opposition with adopting a similar attitude towards BSP founder Kanshiram.
"Now when the BSP is trying to give Dr Ambedkar his due honour by constructing grand memorials, park, university and district, opposition parties like Congress and BJP are feeling bad and are trying to create hurdles," Mayawati said.
The BSP supremo said the issue of memorials and parks was being dragged to the court. "Even SP's attitude towards Babasaheb is very similar to that of Congress and this is the reason its leaders give baseless statements against Dr Ambedkar memorial which is a pilgrimage centre for his followers," she said.
The UP Chief Minister said the Women's Reservation Bill "would not benefit SC/ST, other backwards, religious minorities and poor women of upper caste because no separate quota has been fixed for the women from these categories."
Mayawati said there were "serious shortcomings" in the Bill and asked BSP workers to stage demonstrations against "anti-Ambedkar" attitude of opposition parties and Women's Reservation Bill at all district headquarters across the country on the birth anniversary of Ambedkar on April 14. "The party workers should take time out for Dr Ambedkar and make agitation a success," she appealed. PTI
