LUCKNOW: Days after claiming that she would support BJP or any other party to defeat Samajwadi Party, BSP president Mayawati on Monday sought to assure the minority community that she would retire from politics but would not support the saffron party due to ideological differences.
Alleging that her statement has been twisted by SP and Congress to damage her party’s prospects in byelections, Mayawati said her agenda was to ensure that SP did not win a second seat in legislative council election, and for that, she would support BJP or any other party. “SP and Congress are playing up this statement so that Muslims don’t vote for us in bypolls. However, they will fail in this attempt as Muslims know that in special circumstances when we had to tie-up with BJP to form a government, we did not compromise with our ideology,” she said.
Citing examples of the times when her party stood in support of Muslims while being in power with BJP’s support, Mayawati said, “In 1995, when we formed government for the first time, we thwarted the attempts of BJP and RSS to start a new practice in Mathura Eidgah. In 2003, when BJP pushed for an alliance with us for Lok Sabha election, I refused saying that BSP’s philosophy was totally different from BJP.”
She said BJP tried to put pressure on her by unleashing CBI against her and added that when Congress came to power, Sonia Gandhi called her to discuss the issue. “However, Congress went a step ahead of BJP and never took back the case. I was forced to turn to the Supreme Court,” Mayawati said. “Others run after power but BSP never compromises on ideals. Whenever we have formed government with BJP, it has always been on our terms. BJP is a communal and narrow-minded party which we cannot support,” she said.
“Main swabhimani hoon, mazboot hoon, dabne wali nahin hoon (However, I have self-respect, I am strong and won’t be cowed down.) I will fight communal and capitalist forces at every step,” the BSP chief added. She said no communal riot took place during her four terms as chief minister but both SP and Congress strengthened BJP.
“BJP is in power now only because of SP. We have always taken care of Muslims and given them participation. In bypolls too, two out of seven BSP candidates are Muslims,” she said. Mayawati added that in 1995, when people were sick of the deteriorating law and order under the SP government, BJP and Congress, offered support to her.
“BSP’s partnership with BJP materialised because some decisions have to be taken for public good,” she said.