By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party, (BSP), chief Ms Mayawati has exhorted people of Madhya Pradesh to dethrone Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP), and propel BSP to power in the state in the Vidhan Sabha elections to be held at the end of this year.
Addressing a mammoth rally of over about one lakh people here on Sunday at the historic Lal Parade police ground Ms Mayawati urged all backward sections to unite and appealed them to vote BSP to power at the centre and other states whenever elections are held to improve the lot of the poor, minorities and weaker sections of society. The rally was attended by people from neighbouring states also.
Ms Mayawati in hour-long speech stressed upon the people to give absolute majority to BSP in Madhya Pradesh in the ensuing elections which is key to political power so as to realise the dream of an equitable society
Lashing out at all other parties including the Congress, BJP and their allies, Ms Mayawati said these parties always came to power and ruled with the support of capitalists and industrialists.
“After coming to power, they just forget the poor, the backwards, minorities and the downtrodden of society who continue to suffer in misery,” she remarked.
It has been the same sad story for the past 60 years of Independence, rich became richer while poverty afflicting the silent masses was not eradicated, she said.
Mayawati appealed to the people to whole-heartedly support the BSP in its quest to provide social justice to all, irrespective of caste, community, religion or social hierarchy.
She cautioned people not to be ”misled” by political leaders, without naming Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who indulged in ”gimmicks” like eating and sleeping at houses of the poor.
She repeatedly said that BSP was neither a caste-based party nor it is against the upper castes since it would not be possible to achieve total social justice without the support and backing of the upper castes. She quoted the example of Rajya Sabha member Satish Chandra Mishra, who belongs to upper caste, occupying a high position in her party to buttress her claim.
“The Opposition parties are spreading rumour and creating confusion in the minds of the people to tarnish the image of BSP”, she emphasised.
In Uttar Pradesh the state government has launched a campaign on a war-footing against criminal elements to put them behind bars so that peace prevails in society, she pointed out.
Mayawati said if her party comes to power at the Centre, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, and the flagship plan of the UPA Government providing 100-day job to the poor, would be scrapped and replaced by a new legislation ensuring 365-day employment.
Commenting on the spectre of unemployment in the country, Mayawati assured that if the BSP were voted to power at the centre, she would implement reservations in the private sector. “In Uttar Pradesh, we have not only filled up all the reserved posts lying vacant for years, but are also implementing reservations in the private sector,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mayawati defended her decision to bring Uttar Pradesh police to Bhopal for security reasons.She said it was necessitated due to intelligence reports about threat to her life.
“Samajwadi Party workers had shown black flags at a function in Raipur and intelligence agencies had cautioned me about threat to my life. The decision to send Uttar Pradesh Police here was a result of it,” she said.
She, however, expressed gratitude to Madhya Pradesh Police for making adequate security arrangements for her and also ensuring smooth passage of the well-attended rally.
Mayawati’s clarification came close on the heels of Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Himmat Kothari regretting her decision to deploy Uttar Pradesh policemen for her security.
BSP had also brought in 3,000 personnel of its private Bahujan Volunteer Force, (BVF), to take care of arrangements at the venue of the rally. Madhya Pradesh Government had deployed more than 1,500 personnel, including senior officers, for the rally. ([email protected])