Lucknow: BSP supremo Mayawati today flayed BJP for felicitating its MLAs Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana, accused of instigating the Muzaffarnagar riots, in a rally in Agra and said SP-led government should not have given permission for the event as it could create tension in Uttar Pradesh.
"Despite objection by all the Opposition parties, senior leaders of BJP during yesterday`s Agra rally felicitated the accused of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli riots and BSP strongly condemns it," Mayawati told newspersons here.
"This step of BJP can create tension in Uttar Pradesh...And if such a situation emerges BSP would hold SP equally responsible as it should not have given permission for holding such a rally...People should remain vigilant against the deeds of SP and BJP," she said.
When asked about the presence of controversial Muslim cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan during Samajwadi Party`s Bareilly rally yesterday, Mayawati said she has always maintained that "there is no difference between SP and BJP".
Charging the SP government with issuing a discriminatory notification for rehabilitation of Muzaffarnagar riot victims, which was yesterday stayed by the Supreme Court, she alleged that it wants to instigate Hindu-Muslim riots and it is a joint "game plan" of BJP and SP.
Attacking the Akhilesh Government, she said, "When they have nothing to say on previous BSP government, its chief starts flaying memorials and museums set up by us, only to divert people`s attention from the bad shape of law and order."
Mayawati reiterated her demand for imposition of President`s rule in the state, saying the Governor should take stock of the situation keeping in mind the recent developments and communal tension.
"Since the very beginning, Congress has a casteist mindset, but BJP has moved a step ahead and has been fanning communalism besides casteism and BSP has come into being because of this wrong policy and thought of these two parties," Mayawati alleged.
Attacking Narendra Modi for raising issues being faced by the state during his rallies in different districts, she said he should first remember that his party had also been in power in the state and at the Centre, and asked that why BJP did not pay attention to these problems then.
"If Modi has to come here and say bad things about anyone, it should be his own party and its leaders," she said.
"Instead of making tall claims, Modi should have issued a clarification before the country on the snooping issue involving a woman in Gujarat. But he has not yet said anything," she said.
The BSP chief said that the Supreme Court should take note of this serious incident and take stern action against the guilty so that no government could dare misuse the official machinery in future.
Asked why her party has so far not taken action against MP Dhananjay Singh, who is in jail in connection with the murder of his maid, she said, "Let things become clear, once a final charge sheet is submitted and charges are framed against him, BSP will take stern action against him.
The BSP chief also came down heavily on Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal on sexual harassment charges against him, saying "One who used to ensure that others get justice through the magazine should be himself brought to justice."
