UP's joint opposition tears into BJP, Cong at Deoband rally

BSP supremo Mayawati on April 7 slammed both the BJP and the Congress at the first joint rally with SP and RLD in Deoband, Sahranpur, less than a week before voting for the first phase of polling begins.

“BJP will lose this election because of policies inspired by hatred, especially their chowkidar campaign. No matter how much the chhote, bade chowkidars try, the BJP will not win,” she said.

Addressing the rally in the presence of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and RLD chief Ajit Singh, she said, “The Congress has failed despite ruling for so many years.”

The BSP chief said, “Our government, instead of giving minimum income support, will give employment to poor people. Indira Gandhi too made a 20-point programme to remove poverty, but was it effective?”

“The Congress was tainted by bofors. BJP government is tainted by Rafale. The BJP government has been misusing probe agencies – CBI, ED – against its rivals. You don’t need to give another chance to them. The parties that have already been given enough chances,” she said.

She assured the electorate that if voted to power, farmers will no longer be in debt.

“Sugarcane farmers are suffering in UP. Their grievances are being ignored amid empty announcements. When our party was in power, we made sure dues of sugarcane farmers were paid,” the former Chief Minister said.

Describing Deoband as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said “rivals are running a campaign of hate”. “Last time, Modiji presented himself as chaiwala (tea seller), now he is presenting himself as chowkidar (watchman),” he said, adding that the BJP was following a policy of divide and rule.

He also criticised the BJP government for not paying the dues of cane farmers.

Stating that there was no difference between the policies of the Congress and the BJP, Yadav said, “It is an election of the future, it is an election of burying the differences. The gathbandhan will give the new Prime Minister.”

At the rally along with Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh said this election would decide the future of the country. He said institutions of the country have been “weakened” during Modi’s tenure.

“Modiji could not become the Prime Minister of the nation, he remained the PM of BJP,” Ajit said.

This was the first joint public meeting by the three parties after they formed the alliance to take on the BJP in the state which sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha.

(With inputs from agencies)