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Mayawati sees conspiracy to eliminate her

JHANSI (UTTAR PRADESH): Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday alleged that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government was hatching a political conspiracy to get her eliminated. This was evident from the Centre being loath to extend SPG security cover to her, she said. If she was killed, the Congress should not be forgiven. Her BSP cadres should rise in unison to take revenge (badla lena hoga), Ms. Mayawati said in her address at the “Bundelkhand Vikas Haqeeqat Maharally” (the real story of Bundelkhand’s development) at the Government Girls’ Inter College ground here.

She said the UPA government’s flagship National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme was an affront to the beneficiaries for, its thrust was on securing jobs for Dalits and the rural poor. They were not beggars, but were being asked to beg for Rs 100, the Chief Minister said. The programme would be scrapped when her party came to power at the Centre. And Below Poverty Line families would be assured permanent jobs.

Ms. Mayawati charged the Centre with adopting double standards on the creation of Bundelkhand State.

The separate State would be created once the BSP formed a government at the Centre.

The rally was seen as Ms. Mayawati’s response to the charges levelled by the Congress, especially AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, against her government on Bundelkhand. He visited Bundelkhand on January 16 and 17.

The Chief Minister said she learnt from sources that the Congress, going the Bharatiya Janata Party way, was planning to reopen the Taj Heritage Corridor case and appeal against the clean chit given her by the Income Tax Appellate Authority in the disproportionate assets case. She said the Congress would misuse the official machinery for executing the political conspiracy against her.

Ms. Mayawati dared the Congress to jail her. But she would not kneel before the party, as “unlike the other Dalit leaders” she could not be bought over.

If she was sent to jail, it would be a huge political gain for the BSP.

She was sure that the cadres would work overtime to extend the party’s base.

On Rahul Gandhi staying the night in a Dalit household in Amethi on Saturday, the Chief Minister said the Dalits would not vote for the Congress despite the stage-managed show.

They had not forgotten the Congress’ machinations to ensure the defeat of Bhim Rao Ambedkar in the 1952 Lok Sabha polls.

She cautioned the Dalits not to be mislead by the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the BJP.

After the success of this rally there was the likelihood of the Prime Minister visiting Bundelkhand in the next 10 to 12 days to announce a relief package, she said.

The Chief Minister said that the socio-economic condition of the Dalits had not changed in the 40 years of Congress rule at the Centre.

The party had only resorted to tokenism by appointing Dalits as President and Chief Ministers.

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