Mayawati Slams Rahul, Plays Brahmin And Development Cards

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.