At a state-level rally for 13 candidates of the Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA), Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati today lashed out at both BJP and Congress for doing nothing for the downtrodden in implementation of the reservation policy and alleviating them out of poverty.
Addressing her lone rally for the alliance, of which BSP is one of the seven partners, at Langroya village here, she said, “You have already tested both parties, especially the Congress. Now, oust them.”
Not speaking a word on Punjab’s issues or anything against the Badals, she lashed out at the BJP: “Aap log Namo Namo walon ki zaroor chhuti karne wale hain, inki jumlebazi aur natakbazi ab kaam nahi aayegi (You seem to be in a mood to oust those taking the name of Narendra Modi. Their one-liners and dramas won’t work this time).”
She quickly added, “They promised ‘achhe din’ and ‘sabke saath, sabka vikas’, but nothing has happened. All the big and small chowkidars also cannot save the BJP. Even the Akali Dal cannot save it now.”
She took on the Congress too. “Don’t fall in trap of their hawa-hawai manifestoes. They are announcing an assured income of Rs 6,000 (Nyay scheme) to everyone but our party does not stand for such promises as we believe in giving work to all.”
She raised the demand for implementation of reservation in the private sector too.
“Both the Central and the state governments have been indulging in privatisation of the departments owing to which the benefit of reservation policy has reduced. The implementation of reservation in promotions too has not been effected properly. Had the Congress implemented the policy well post Independence, there would have been no need to form the BSP,” she said.
She also played the minority card by saying that the successive governments had done nothing for the Sikhs, Muslims and other minority communities. She also spoke for the soldiers serving on the front, “Our borders not fully protected and our jawans are losing their lives.”