http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-12/india/30390956_1_mayawati-bahujan-samaj-party-rahul-gandhi
Mayawati slams Rahul, plays Brahmin and development cards
Ashish Tripathi, TNN Nov 12, 2011, 02.20PM IST
LUCKNOW: UP chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo
Mayawati on Saturday slammed Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi
for his remark that "a deep sense of anguish overtakes him when he
sees corruption, poverty and exploitation of people in Uttar Pradesh
(UP)."
"Why does Congress' 'yuvraj' (prince) not feel angry over a series of
scams that took place under the Congress led UPA government and the
spiralling inflation under its rule, attacks on people of UP and
atrocities against Dalits in the Congress ruled Maharashta," Mayawati
asked sarcastically. She did not mention Rahul's name but addressed
him as Congress party's 'yuvraj' in a bid to highlight the 'dynastic
and feudal structure' of the party.
The chief minister's rejoinder to Rahul's remarks came at the
inauguration of Dr Shakuntala Devi Mishra University for
Rehabilitation and Education of Disabled. She said that being a Member
of Parliament (MP) from UP, the 'yuvraj' should pressurise his
government at the centre to release funds for development.
"The Congress led UPA government at the centre is not releasing
development funds but it is criticising my government for not taking
adequate steps for development," she added. Mayawati said that the
Congress party was only playing politics for electoral gains and was
not serious about development of the state.
Interestingly, though the university was inaugurated on Saturday, but
it has been working for last two years. Also, the inauguration of the
university was an official function organised by Mayawati's
government. On the occasion, Mayawati also laid foundation for welfare
schemes and projects worth over Rs 16,140 crore. However, the official
event was converted into a BSP function with hundreds of party workers
and leaders raising slogans in favour of Mayawati and denouncing
opposition parties. They claimed that the BSP would win the coming
assembly elections (due in next four months) and conquer New Delhi in
2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Using the official platform to launch her party campaigning for the
assembly elections, Mayawati said that though she was a Dalit
(Schedule Caste) herself but still got a university constructed in the
name of a Brahmin (upper caste) woman. She said that the university
was named after social worker Dr Shakuntala Devi Mishra, mother of
BJP(Bhartiya Janta Party) general secretary SC Mishra and the
university had now become a symbol of upper-lower castes unity.
Mayawati said that this demonstrated that her government believed in
equality and not in caste divisions. She said that she was dedicating
the university to her grandfather Mangal Sen who had raised and
supported his family despite losing his vision. Mayawati recalled that
it was because of her grandfather that she got an opportunity to
pursue higher education.
The chief minister reiterated that law and order in UP under previous
governments of Samata Party (SP), BJP and Congress was worst. "Under
my rule, even ministers and MLAs of my party have been sent to jail
when found indulging in corruption and guilty of criminal activities
whereas in previous regimes no action was taken against any
influential person," she added.
Mayawati pointed out that the Congress had ruled UP for over 50 years
without bringing any development to the state. "Whereas all round
development has taken place during five years of BSP's rule.
Mayawati on the occasion laid foundation stones for construction and
repair of 23 state highways, 20 bridges, a power generation plant and
several water treatment plants among other things. She inaugurated
four bridges and three power projects. The chief minister also
announced extension of several social welfare schemes for Dalits and
backward classes.
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