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Lucknow, Oct 9 (IANS) The BJP on Thursday welcomed Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati’s remarks in which she lauded the state government for using the money received from the ‘Kanshi Ram Smarak Sthal’ (memorial) for renovation purposes – saying the move was contrary to the approach of the previous Samajwadi Party (SP) government.
However, Mayawati’s sharp criticism of the Congress and the Samajwadi Party for “doing drama” and “exploiting the Dalits and oppressed classes” during her rule drew a strong reaction from the SP.
Addressing a rally in Lucknow on the death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, Mayawati accused the former SP and Congress governments of promoting casteist and capitalist mentality, claiming they systematically discriminated against Dalits, OBCs and weaker sections of the society.
Reacting to his remarks, Uttar Pradesh minister Kapil Dev Agarwal told IANS, “It is the duty of the government to maintain and preserve the work done by Mayawati, revered Kanshi Ram and respected Dr BR Ambedkar – the work that has been done for the Dalit community, building monuments and memorials to the community leaders and ancestors, who are a source of pride and inspiration for the society.”
“The engineering colleges and degree colleges which were named after eminent Dalit leaders were renamed during Akhilesh Yadav’s tenure as chief minister and replaced with other names,” he said.
Responding to Mayawati’s comments, Samajwadi Party MP RK Chaudhary said, “BJP is a party that works under the RSS. The RSS is an organization that does not accept BR Ambedkar’s Constitution as its own. Mayawati should understand the direction the BJP is going. What the BJP did in the past, it will do again.”
He said, “BJP and RSS are trying to impose the ideas of Manusmriti so that discrimination continues. We are fighting against discrimination and trying to save the Constitution. Mayawati should understand this.”
–IANS
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