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Mayawati patronising criminals: Uma

Photo: Subir Roy

In a new role: BJP leader in charge of UP, Uma Bharati, addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Wednesday.

LUCKNOW: Spelling out the political agenda for the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Uma Bharati on Wednesday took on Chief Minister Mayawati on growing crime in the State, particularly those related to women. Ms. Bharti, who was recently re-inducted into the party and made the BJP representative in charge of UP, said Ms. Mayawati had failed to send a chill down the spines of criminals as she was “herself patronising criminals”.

Ms. Bharti said the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State would be fought on the twin agendas of development and crime. Chief Minister Mayawati would be asked to explain what her government had done towards development and reduction of the crime rate. “Other issues would also be raised with the BJP determined to end misgovernance in the State and usher in good governance, Ms. Bharti said.

While the BJP's election agenda in 2012 would revolve round development and crime, the Ram temple issue was very conveniently kept on the backburner. Even as the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister reiterated her commitment to the temple and Hindutva, the latter was described by her as the “soul of India”. Stating that she was never “apologetic about her association with the temple movement”, Ms. Bharti made it clear that the political agenda would be “vikas” (development ) and “apradh” (crime).

Addressing her maiden press conference since taking over charge of the State at the BJP headquarters on Wednesday, Ms. Bharti disagreed with the suggestion that a woman CM was considered incapable of curbing crime against women. “Whether the Chief Minister is a man or a woman is irrelevant. What matters is the will to execute the job”, she said. On the issue of development, she said the BJP would seek a reply from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on the utilisation of state and central funds on the welfare schemes.

The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for defending the police action against yoga icon Baba Ramdev. “The Prime Minister's statement was an insult to democracy,” the Sadhvi said.

Ms. Bharti also criticised the former MP Chief Minister and presently the Congress in charge of UP, Digvijay Singh. Describing Mr. Singh as “the stepney of Rahul Gandhi”, Ms. Bharti said he has no political role in in UP.

Incidentally, almost the entire BJP top brass was absent, including the election in charge of UP, Kalraj Mishra, when Ms. Bharti addressed her first press conference, which underlined that many leaders were not happy with the party leadership's decision to send her to UP. On Mr. Mishra's absence, Ms. Bharti said he had spoken to her and was currently in Kerala for treatment.

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