BJP wants to convert India into 'Hindu rashtra', spreading religious fundamentalism, hatred: Mayawati

BSP chief Mayawati accused BJP of spreading religious fundamentalism and hatred in its bid to convert India into a 'Hindu rashtra'.

New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of spreading "religious fundamentalism" and hatred in its bid to convert India into a 'Hindu rashtra'.

Addressing the party's National Executive meeting in Delhi, she said the BJP has spoilt the hopes of ushering in 'achhe din' for farmers, poor and small traders and only a "handful" of capitalists and industrialists have benefited.

"In a bid to divert people's attention from issues like price rise, imposition of taxes which have led to large-scale public anger, BJP and its organisations are trying to provoke issues like religious fundamentalism, mutual hatred and pseudo nationalism," she said.

She also said that the BJP government at the Centre is following the "narrow and casteist philosophy" of its parent organisation RSS to convert India into a "Hindu rashtra".

In the process, it has sacrificed national and public interest and has "fully ignored" matters like poverty, unemployment, peace and price rise, a statement quoting her said.

Referring to the issue of corruption, she said the BJP and Congress are two sides of the same coin.

"The way BJP government is trying to protect the corrupt, it is possible that it will beat the corruption of Congress in the coming years," she said.

She alleged the BJP and Congress governments in states are indulging in atrocities against Dalits and those belonging to the weaker sections of the society.

"Though they opposed the Dalit icons throughout their lives, they use their names now to further their political interests," the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said.

She also said her party will contest the Assembly polls in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Puducherry and Kerala alone. "It may take a while to get good results there, but we will contest alone," she said addressing the gathering.