BJP persecuting Muslims, SP not doing justice either: Mayawati

She also targeted the Congress and Samajwadi party parties, saying the old “drama and empty rhetoric” will not work in this election.

BSP chief Mayawati in Moradabad, Monday. (PTI)

Campaigning for her party candidate Irfan Saifi in Moradabad, BSP supremo Mayawati on Monday targeted the BJP, accusing it of “persecuting” Muslims in the name of religion. She also targeted the Congress and Samajwadi party parties, saying the old “drama and empty rhetoric” will not work in this election.

Addressing a rally in Moradabad, the BSP chief said: “The condition of Muslims and other minorities is not good. It is bad and pathetic. In the past few years, it is because of the BJP and RSS governments that their development and uplift have been affected. Their oppression in the name of ‘dharm’ (religion), especially Hindutva, is at its peak.”

“Wherever there are BJP governments — at the Centre and in the states — the people are perturbed by their policies. Like the Congress, the BJP too is a casteist party and their policies are tailored to suit their capitalist friends. The BJP has no concern for the Dalits, Muslims, and adivasis (tribals). The BJP does nothing for either the economic betterment of Dalits, Muslims and adivasis, or ensuring the development of areas inhabited by them,” she added.

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Claiming that her party has done justice to the minority community in the distribution of tickets for the Lok Sabha polls, Mayawati hit out at the Samajwadi Party (SP), accusing it of neglecting Muslims’ interests. “We have fielded candidates as per the demographic constitution of a constituency. Like in places where there are more Hindus, a Hindu candidate has been fielded, and Muslim candidates where the Muslims are more in numbers… But the Samajwadi Party has done the opposite. Where Muslims are more in number, it has given tickets to Hindus… For instance in Moradabad. This has been the culture of Samajwadi Party,” she said.

While the BSP has fielded Irfan Saifi from Moradabad, SP has given the ticket to Ruchi Veera after denying the ticket to its sitting MP ST Hassan. The BSP has fielded Muslims in four Lok Sabha constituencies under the Moradabad division. The party has fielded Zeeshan Khan from Rampur, Muzahid Hussain from Amroha, and Shaukat Ali from Sambhal.
— With PTI inputs

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