Uttar Pradesh: ‘Grateful to BJP govt in state’, says BSP chief Mayawati; slams ‘double-faced’ SP

LUCKNOW: While paying tributes to Kanshi Ram, founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and her predecessor in the party and the organisation, on his 19th death anniversary in Lucknow, BSP national president Mayawati on Thursday said she was grateful to the incumbent BJP govt in the state and extremely critical of the Samajwadi Party govt, which formed govt in UP after the BSP lost power in 2012. In the commemorative programme organised at Manyawar Shri Kanshi Ram Ji Smarak Sthal (Eco Garden), a memorial built by the BSP govt, Mayawati said, "I am grateful to the present state government because, unlike the Samajwadi Party govt, the present BJP govt did not hoard the revenue from the ticket sales at this memorial, but on our party's request, they spent the amount on the renovation of this memorial." Sounding unwavered by the opposition's constant accusation of her party being the BJP's B-team, Mayawati was lavish in her praise for the UP CM. She added that when she wrote to the present UP CM and requested him to use the ticket revenue of the memorial on its maintenance and upkeep, "the govt not only looked into the matter but also promised to do as was requested. We told the government that we are not asking for any separate funds". She told the gathering of her supporters that when the BSP govt got the memorials and parks built to uphold the legacy of the Dalit icons in the state, it also made an arrangement for tickets at these places, so that money from the ticket sales could be used in the maintenance of these buildings. "But it is sad that the SP govt that succeeded us in UP did not spend any money on maintaining these buildings and parks, but hoarded the money earned through the sale of tickets at these places," said the BSP chief. "When SP is in power, it is neither the thought of PDA nor the birth and death anniversaries of Kanshi Ram Ji that strikes them, but it is only when they are out of power that they talk of organising seminars under his name," she added."I want to ask Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav if he really has so much respect for Kanshi Ram Ji, then why did he change the name of the new district, Kanshi Ram Nagar, which was established by the BSP govt on April 17, 2008, after granting Kasganj the status of a district headquarters under the Aligarh division? We also named many colleges, universities, institutions, and welfare schemes after him. The SP govt stopped most of these schemes. What else is this if not your dual character?" said Mayawati. She asked her party men and supporters to be vigilant against such "double-faced people, who are mindful of PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) and saints and great men of PDA only when in power and forget our saints and teachers when in power."