Months ahead of the assembly elections scheduled in Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo and former chief minister Mayawati, on Tuesday, 7 September, attended the 'Prabudh Sammelan' in Lucknow with a pitch of uniting the Brahmin community in support for her party.
"The Brahmins have agreed that under the BSP's rule, people from the community were in better condition as compared to under BJP's rule," she said, adding that if her party comes to power in the state next year, she will "ensure their security."
She added that the Brahmins must support the BSP for her party to come to power in the state with complete majority like in 2007.
"The Brahmin community needs to unite with the BSP on war footing so that the party comes to power with a majority, as it did in 2007. We will go to villages and hamlets and unite at least 1,000 brahmin workers in each," she said.
Mayawati added that in the SP rule, the Brahmins faced discrimination and never got appropriate representation.
Attacks on the BJP
Training guns at the Yogi Adiyanath-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, she urged the Brahmins to support her party for the community's "betterment."
She said that the BJP came to power in the state only because the people were fed up of the Samajwadi Party (SP).
"However, I am also proud of the Dalit community who never lost faith in the BSP. The other communities associated with the BSP will not be influenced by the BJP," she said.
Commenting on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's address in Mumbai on 6 September, where he said that Hindus and Muslims have the same ancestry, Mayawati said: "I want to ask him that if the Hindus and Muslims in India have the same ancestors, then why do the RSS and the BJP give Muslims a step-brotherly treatment?"
Attacking the BJP over farm laws, Mayawati said that her party will not allow the legislations to be implemented if it comes to power.
Often criticised for erecting statues and parks in the state and naming infrastructure projects after her while she was in power, Mayawati said that this time her party will only focus on development of the state and not on parks and smaraks.
She also urged her supporters to come to Kanshi Ram Smarak Sthal in Lucknow on 9 October to observe the death anniversary of the late BSP supremo and her mentor Kanshi Ram.The
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