Lucknow: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) held a massive rally in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday on the 10th death anniversary of its founder Kanshi Ram.
Addressing a rally at Kanshiram Park in Lucknow, party supremo Mayawati attacked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at Centre and accused it of spreading hatred and communalism in Uttar Pradesh.
"BJP is trying hard to convert India into a Hindu nation and are spreading communal politics in Uttar Pradesh. Atrocities against Dalits have risen today. Muslims and minorities are being targetted across the country in the name of gau-raksha (cow protection) and 'love jihad'. I demand that Centre allow quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in private jobs," she said.
"Harassment of Dalits and minorities would stop in the state once a BSP government comes to power in Uttar Pradesh," Mayawati said.
Taking further dig at PM Modi for failing to fulfill his poll promises to the state, Mayawati said, "During his electoral campaign in 2014, PM Modi had made a lot of promises on reducing poverty, inflation control, education, employment, and electricity and water supply. Nothing has been fulfilled yet. Narendra Modi government has only given empty promises to the people of Uttar Pradesh."
"The farmers were promised loan waiver, but only the rich farmers have received the loan waiver not the small farmers," she said.
Hitting out at Akhilesh Yadav government for deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, she said 'the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh has disappointed the people completely'.
"Goondaraj is on a high esteem in Uttar Pradesh and to bring back law and order situation in the state, people must vote for Bahujan Samaj Party. I will not spare the corrupt babus once we form the government here," she said while addressing the rally in which close to 10 lakh people are said to have participated.
"BSP is confident of forming the next government in the state with an absolute majority," she added.
Mayawati also urges the Muslim community in the state to not waste their votes on Samajwadi Party as it would BJP.
Raking up the 2015 Dadri incident, in which a Muslim man was lynched by a mob on charges of carrying beef at his home, Mayawati said, "Communal politics has been played out in the state. Muzzafarnagar riots and Dadri incidents are proof of it. Both BJP, as well as Samajwadi Party, are playing communal politics."
With Assembly elections scheduled in several states next year, Mayawati announced that BSP will not form any pre-poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand.
She hoped to form a majority government in the state and said better law and order, especially safety of women, would be the main focus of her government.
Uttar Pradesh is scheduled to go for polls early 2017.
