Mayawati targets PM Narendra Modi over Una Dalit atrocity incident

Ahmedabad: BSP supremo Mayawati on Thursday launched a vitriolic attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS, alleging that on the one hand, they talk of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas', but on the other target Dalits and Muslims in the name of 'gau raksha' (cow protection).

"BJP, RSS, Shiv Sena and their other organisations, under a well thought out plan first targeted Muslims in the name of cow protection and now they are targeting Dalits," she alleged while addressing a Dalit gathering after meeting family members of the victims here.

"Narendra Modi, who belongs to Gujarat, says 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas', but in reality there is no development for Dalits, only few industrialists and businessmen are getting the fruits of development," she said.

She warned BJP and RSS to "stop committing atrocities against Dalits as they are not going to tolerate it anymore".

Mayawati asked Dalits to form an alliance with Muslims and try to form a government in Gujarat.

"You have to seek justice from the BJP government for Una incident. You need to form an alliance with Muslims and try to form a government here so that you do not have to seek justice but you are in the position give justice," she said.

Later, speaking to reporters at the Ahmedabad civil hospital where she went to meet the four Dalit victims, Mayawati claimed that BJP deliberately created a situation to keep her away from visiting Gujarat as it will "send out a wrong message about the party and government".

She alleged that BJP under a well thought out plan made one of its leaders in Uttar Pradesh, Dayashankar Singh, use indecent words against her, and the party sought Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel's resignation timing with her announcement to visit the state, so that she does not come.

"Ever since BJP came to power at Centre, people from weaker sections, including Dalits, adivasis and other backward class, are under attack in the entire country and especially in BJP-ruled states," she said.

"Muslims and Christians are among religious minorities that are under attack. In upper caste, the poor are also not happy but Dalits are the most unhappy," she said.

She claimed that the state government acted on the Una incident only after she raised the issue in Parliament.

"BJP, RSS cadre beat up and tortured Dalits in Una...It is sad to know that police, public remained mute spectators and instead of acting against criminals, they were helping them. The victims I met today said main conspirators are still at large which troubles them," she said.

She claimed that to divert attention from the Una incident after she raised the issue in the Parliament, BJP made Dayashankar Singh use indecent language against her.

She claimed that BJP asked the Chief Minister here to resign to show their seriousness about the incident.

"When on August 1 they came to know that I was coming to Ahmedabad, state health minister reached the hospital and asked the Superintendent to discharge Una victims admitted here but (superintendent) said their health is not good."

"Thinking that my visit will send out a wrong message, the BJP government asked its woman CM here to resign, to show how serious they are about the issue. Now to divert the matter, they have created a speculation about who will be the next chief minister," she said.