Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati criticised the INDIA bloc members, including the Samajwadi Party, on Thursday for commenting on parties that are not part of the Opposition alliance. Speaking at a press conference in Lucknow, the BSP chief said, “About the alliance of the Opposition, no one should give statements about Opposition parties that are not part of the (INDIA) alliance, including the BSP. This is my advice to them. Because it can’t be predicted who will need whom in the future. In such a scenario, these people will have to feel shameful at a later stage. In this, the Samajwadi Party is a living example.” The former chief minister’s statement comes after reports of the Samajwadi Party opposing the induction of the BSP into INDIA during the bloc's fourth meeting on Tuesday. And BSP national coordinator and Mayawati’s nephew, Akash Anand, said in a post on X, “Media reports and some party colleagues have revealed that in yesterday’s INDIA Alliance meeting, some people are less afraid of BJP and more afraid of BSP.” “I want to make it clear that BSP does not believe in the hate politics of alliance which seeks votes by showing fear of BJP. Because at one time some people came to power by showing fear of Congress and today the whole country is suffering the consequences of that,” wrote Akash. Commenting on the Ram temple consecration ceremony, Mayawati said, “I would also like to state that our party is a secular one and our country has people from different religions. And they have different religious places, which we respect. Our party has no objection to the Ram temple which is going to be inaugurated next month. And whenever the mosque being built in Ayodhya on orders of the court is completed and inaugurated, our party will have no objection to that too. Our party respects all religious places. In the last few years, the politics being done over this is disgusting, sad and worrying and should not be done. Because with this, our country will get weak, and because it leads to hatred being spread among people, which is not suitable.” Mayawati also commented on the ongoing Parliament session. “The record number of suspensions of around 150 in both Houses is not a sign of good work for the government and the Opposition. Whoever is responsible is for this, it is a sad moment in the history of Parliament. It affects the confidence of the people. The viral video of suspended MPs making fun of the honourable chairman is also not suitable and is unbecoming. In this way, with incidents of disputes and tussle between the government and the Opposition, it is also very necessary to save the country’s democracy and Parliamentary traditions from being disrespected.” “It is also not a good precedent to get laws related to the welfare of the common people passed without the Opposition. In the world’s largest democracy and Parliament under the Constitution given by Dr Ambedkar, the responsibility of saving good democratic traditions is not just on one, but on all. And all should carry it on,” she added. She also said the recent security breach in Parliament was very serious and worrying. “All sides should give special attention to the security of the Parliament. Levelling allegations against one another will not work. Those who are responsible for the breach should face strict legal action. In such a scenario, the intelligence unit should also be on vigil so such an incident is not repeated,” she said.
