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SP, BJP behind Gorakhpur violence: Mayawati

Special Correspondent

Both parties desperate to regain their vote base: BSP chief

LUCKNOW: Bahujan Samaj Party president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday slammed the Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party for the communal clashes in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing a BSP dharna, in protest against incidents of rape in Allahabad and Jaunpur, at the District Collectorate here, she said both parties were desperate to regain their vote base. She alleged that Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav sought to capitalise on the loss of lives and public property in the communal violence in Purvanchal (eastern Uttar Pradesh).

The ruling SP and the BJP were dividing the people along communal lines.

The one-day symbolic dharna and demonstration was staged by the BSP in protest against the Kareli (Allahabad) madarsa incident and the rape of a 12-year-old Dalit girl in Jaunpur district.

Ms. Mayawati said the madarsa rape incident in Allahabad, involving two inmates of a girls' hostel, was the fallout of an attempt to grab madarsa land by Samajwadi Party MP from Phulpur Atiq Ahmed and his aides. She demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident.

The BSP leader wanted to know why the Chief Minister was wary of referring the case to the CBI. She said she would refer the case to the investigating agency if her party regained power in the State in the coming Assembly elections.

Similar demonstrations were staged at all 17 divisional commissionaires.

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SP, BJP behind Gorakhpur violence: Mayawati

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