Mayawati claims Ambedkar statue, Sectt name eyewash by BRS for Dalit votes
HYDERABAD: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Sunday claimed credit for the installation of a 125-feet statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar and naming of the new Secretariat after Ambedkar, citing the party’s emergence as a strong political force in Telangana.
Addressing a public meeting organised by the state BSP unit at the Saroornagar Stadium on the day, Mayawati said: “This credit goes to every grassroot worker and leader of BSP in Telangana due to whom the party is growing stronger by the day. Telangana CM was forced to install tallest Ambedkar statue and also name new Secretariat out of this fear and to divert people's attention from BSP.”
As her statement drew thunderous applause from the audience, the BSP supremo went on to attack the BRS government and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.
Applauding the efforts made by the Telangana BSP chief R.S. Praveen Kumar, she said that Kumar sacrificed his IPS post by taking voluntary retirement to serve the society, especially the economically weaker sections of Telangana.
She said that Praveen Kumar would be made Chief Minister on the account of a BSP win in this year’s elections, urging party leaders and workers to work hard and bring BSP to power in Telangana for the upliftment of SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and EBCs.
“I came to know that K. Chandrashekar Rao made a statement, twice or thrice, that the Indian Constitution drafted by Dr Ambedkar needs to be rewritten. When BSP leaders and workers hit the streets against Chandrashekar Rao's statements, he started playing dramas to divert people's attention. The (installation of the) tallest Ambedkar statue and naming of government buildings after Ambedkar is part of this drama,” she said.
Mayawati also accused the Chief Minister of mimicking the schemes implemented by the BSP in Uttar Pradesh during her term at the helm.
“BSP formed government four times in Uttar Pradesh. The BSP government distributed 3 acres to the poor. KCR copied it and promised to distribute 3 acres to Dalits in Telangana, but he failed to fulfil it even after nine years,” Mayawati said.
She reminded Telangana people that the BSP was at the forefront of extending complete support for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and granting statehood to Telangana.
“BSP raised its voice in the Parliament for statehood to Telangana. We voted in favour of state bifurcation Bill in the Parliament,” Mayawati said.
Mayawati also took a dig at the BRS government for failing to provide jobs to youth and for failing to conduct recruitment exams properly.
Referring to TSPSC question paper leaks, she said: “Huge irregularities took place in recruitment exams. BSP leaders and workers waged a battle against the government on this issue. Telangana government is trying to suppress our voices.”
Stating that BSP has not weakened in UP, Mayawati said, “As long as elections were held with ballot papers, BSP was strong. The BSP lost elections after EVMs were introduced. This is due to EVM tampering done by rival parties.”
