http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Dalits-backwards-must-unite-toensure-BSPs-win-says-Maya/articleshow/10898304.cms
Dalits, backwards must unite toensure BSP's win, says Maya
Ashish Tripathi, TNN | Nov 28, 2011, 02.09AM IST
LUCKNOW: Recognising caste realities in UP politics, chief minister
and BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday sounded the election bugle, exhorting
Dalits and backwards to bury differences and join hands to bring the
party back to power in 2012. She denied allegation of promoting her
family and accused rivals of harbouring anti-dalit mindset.
"Even if you (Dalit and backwards) don't want to have 'roti our beti
ka rishta' but the master key to socio-economic and political
empowerment is political power, which can be grabbed only when Dalits
and backward are united," said Mayawati while addressing a gathering
of over two lakhs at a Dalit-backward convention. The message was loud
and clear: though Dalits and backwards don't have social ties when it
comes to sharing food, or having matrimonial ties, they must unite to
vote BSP to power and ensure their uplift.
Quoting Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, Mayawati said that the
socio-economic status of Dalits and backwards, who have been
suppressed for ages, is almost the same in the entire country. "It is
because of the Constitutional provisions made by Babasaheb, Dalits and
backwards are getting reservation benefit," the BSP chief said.
Significantly, at Brahmin convention on November 13, Maya had tried to
cash in on age-old rivalry between Brahmins and Thakurs by claiming
that Congress and BJP would make a Thakur chief minister if voted to
power, whereas now she wants Dalits and backwards to forget rivalry
inherited from ancestors and remain united.
Keeping caste equations in mind, Maya said that the focus of her
government has been on Dalits and backwards. "I have asked Centre for
scheduled caste status to 13 backward classes including Kewat, Kahar,
Kashyap, Mallah, Nishad, Lonia, Kumhar, Dheevar, Bind, Machhiara,
Lohia-Chauhan, Nonia and Dhangar," she said.
The BSP chief even went on to say that for development of Dalits and
backwards, it is necessary for UP to have a Dalit or a backward as
chief minister (CM). Hinting that in case she moves to Centre, a Dalit
or a backward will get chief ministership, she also assured that if UP
is divided into four states, the CM post will be got to Dalits and
backwards.
A combination of Dalits, backwards, Muslims and Brahmins helped BSP
grab power with absolute majority in 2007. Dalits constitute 21% of
UP's population, backward are about 29%, Muslim 20%, Brahmins 12%,
Thakurs 8% and other castes 10%. Among backward classes, most backward
such as Nishad, Rajbhar etc constitute 60%.
Out of 403 assembly seats in UP, Dalits play crucial role in 35%
seats, backwards in 30%, Muslims in 15% and upper castes in 20%.
Post-Mandal, the SP used to get lion's share of backward votes but
Yadav dominance has gradually alienated non-Yadav backwards from the
party. Mayawati has grabbed these non-Yadavs backwards.
Maya also said "Election can take place in UP anytime and I want BSP
workers to pull up their socks." Claiming that Congress, BJP and SP
have entered into tacit understanding, she claimed that these parties
might bring Dalit and backward face to woo voters in elections but
real power will be in the hands of anti-dalit forces.
The BSP chief also assured that she would distribute tickets for
assembly elections keeping in mind the contribution of various castes
and classes in building BSP movement. She announced that on December
18, BSP would hold a convention for Muslims, Thakur and Vaishya
communities.
Training her guns at opposition parties, Maya described the previous
Samajwadi Party rule in UP as 'Goonda raj' and BJP rule as 'communal'.
She said that SP and BJP survived on polarization of votes on communal
and caste lines. However, the better part of her speech was devoted to
Congress-bashing and highlighting work done by her government.
Maya rebutted allegations of corruption in implementation of MNREGA
but also recognized the importance of the scheme for the poor. She
said that she has taken action wherever anomalies in MNREGA were
reported. She also added that the MNREGA is not Congress's property as
it was passed with the support of all the parties.
Further, while exhibiting her prime ministerial ambitions again, UP
chief minister said that whenever BSP would form the government at the
Centre, it would amend the MNREGA to provide employment round-the-year
and not 100 days as per the existing provisions. "100 days employment
in a year is not enough for poor," she added.
Mayawati also accused Congress leaders of misleading people on the
MNREGA issue. "Instead of releasing the funds for MNREGA twice a year
- April and September - as per the rules, the Centre gives fund to UP
at the end of financial year, making it difficult for the state
government to implement the scheme," she claimed, accusing the Central
government of giving more funds to Congress-ruled states.
Scoffing at Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's promise that if
voted to power, Congress would transform UP into a developed state in
10 years, the BSP chief said that the Congress ruled UP for over 40
years after independence but did little for the state, resulting in
large-scale migration of people to other states for livelihood.
"The migrants are today being ill-treated and exploited, particularly
in Congress-ruled states. And, Congress's 'yuvraj' ( Rahul Gandhi)
calls them beggar, which is an insult to entire UP," she said. Denying
Rahul's allegations of being casetist, she pointed out that she had
asked for quota benefit for poor among upper castes and Muslims.
Responding to Rahul's remark "An elephant (BSP's election symbol) is
eating money sent by Centre for UP's development", Maya retorted that
the "Congress is having nightmares of elephant trampling all over
them. The panic in Congress can be gauged from the fact that Rahul
skipped Parliament session for touring UP."
Reacting to allegations that she had been promoting her family,
Mayawati said that inspired by her mentor, BSP founder Kanshiram, she
has taken pledge not to marry and serve the people. "My association
with my parents and family will end the day they will ask ticket to
contest election or seek ministership," she said.
Accusing UPA government of misusing the CBI, Maya said that the agency
has been pursuing 'fabricated" disproportionate assets case against
her but has done little in foodgrain scam under SP rule. "National
Commissions have been hyperactive in UP, overlooking atrocities on
Dalits and women in Congress-ruled states," she said.
Justifying her move to split UP, Maya said "The ball is now in
Centre's court." She also said that she has taken action against her
party leaders caught in corruption and criminal cases, whereas
Congress and BJP have been reluctant in doing so in the states ruled
by them.
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