UP CM recalls state guest house attack on Mayawati amidst SP-BSP proximity speculation

LUCKNOW: Amidst speculations over growing proximity between Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party, chief minister Yogi Adityanath reminded the two of state guest house incident and also about the warning allegedly by Akhilesh government to demolish memorials built during Mayawati regime in the name of great Indian personalities.

Yogi summed up their bid as "ker (banana tree)-ber (Indian plum) ka sang", referring to poet Rahim's couplet: "Kahu Rahim kaise nibhey, ber ker ko sang, ve dolat ras aapne, unke faatat ang".

Interestingly, one of the nine courtiers in Mughal emperor Akbar's kingdom, poet Rahim's couplet literally meant that Indian plum plant and banana can't be grown together as Indian plum tree has thorn while banana tree is very soft. When the wind blows the plum tree, it's thorns damage the banana tree.

Later replying to a question on which party is plum and which party is banana tree, Yogi said that people have not forgotten the State guest house incident and people also know who threatened to demolish memorials built during Mayawati regime in the name of great Indian personalities.

It may be recalled that on June 2, 1995 some Samajwadi Party legislators and their supporters had allegedly misbehaved with BSP leader Mayawati and also indulged in violent activities on the State Guest House premises. The FIR about the incident was lodged by Barkhu Ram Verma of BSP at the Hazratganj police station.

Similarly, when SP government came to power post-2012 assembly election, then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and other SP leaders had stated that since lot of land used for memorials built during Mayawati government was lying in waste, the government might think of utilising the land for hospitals and other public utility services. Interestingly, during Akhilesh government, several offices including office of 1090 women power line and Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation did come up.

Talks of SP and BSP coming together is being heard ever since the BJP made a huge dent in both the SP and the BSP vote base while riding on Modi wave ever since 2014 Lok Sabha election. The discussion over their alliance has become stronger as UP will see Lok Sabha by-elections at Gorakhpur and Phulpur.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had vacated Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat after he was appointed the CM while Keshav Prasad Maurya vacated Phulpur seat after he was appointed as deputy chief minister in Yogi cabinet.

Earlier, Yogi termed the BJP's victory in northeastern state as a result of PM Narendra Modi's look east policy and Amit Shah's astute strategies. The win in the northeast is important as it has demolished the Left's last major citadel, the CM further said.

To a question on his meeting with spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishanker, Yogi said that he has good relations with him for past many years and his meeting with him should not be seen through political perspective. He, however, added that UP was a state of hope and potential.