Mayawati called Muslims betrayers, says aide

Lucknow: Expelled BSP leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui, on Thursday, claimed that BSP president Mayawati has demanded Rs 50 crores from him and had asked him to gather the money by selling off his property.

He also claimed he was tortured in the presence of Ms Mayawati, her brother Anand Kumar and BSP MP Satish Chandra Misra.

Mr Siddiqui, at a press conference here on Thursday, played five audio recordings of his conversations with Ms Mayawati in which the latter can be heard repeatedly asking him to do the assignment which she had given to him. “This call was for the collection of Rs 50 crore for her by selling my property,” the expelled leader claimed. Siddiqui said he was in possession of 150 such audio clippings.

“She (Mayawati) was sore after the dismal showing of the BSP in the recent Assembly elections and termed Muslims as betrayers for not voting for the party,” he alleged. Accusing the BSP supremo of having referred to “bearded Muslims as dogs”, Siddiqui claimed he had objected to the remark.

In one of the recordings played, Siddiqui refuses to go over to Ms Mayawati’s residence and tells her that “Bahut torture hota hai”. She then was heard saying that she will not talk on phone because phones can be taped.

Mr Siddiqui told reporters that he also had proof that the BSP president had plotted to eliminate one of the political leaders. “But today, I will only respond to the charges that have been leveled against me. If she goes a step further, I will also expose her conspiracy and her real assets. The proofs that I have can bring an earthquake,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ms Mayawati accused the expelled leader of swindling the party’s funds. Ms Mayawati said that all candidates were given membership booklets and Siddiqui had taken maximum booklets to prove his clout.

Trouble for expelled leader
Trouble, it is said, comes in twos, and expelled BSP leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui should know it best.

Hours after his expulsion from the BSP, the Lucknow police geared up to file chargesheet against him in the case related to making derogatory references to the female members of the family of Daya Shankar Singh last year.

Swati Singh, wife of Daya Shankar Singh, who had been jailed for his objectionable remarks against Ms Mayawati, is now a UP minister and has demanded that action should be taken in the matter. The complaint against these leaders had been filed by Daya Shankar’s mother Tetra Devi. Investigating officer A. Misra said notices to the accused have been sent but no one responded yet.