Cong to prop up Dalit as PM: Maya to ‘vote base’

“Cornered over the issue of corruption,the Congress,which did not make (Lok Sabha Speaker) Meira Kumar’s father Jagjivan Ram the prime minister,may appoint Meira Kumar or Sushilkumar Shinde (both Dalit leaders) for some time with a heavy heart,” Mayawati said,speaking after the inauguration of her Noida monument,called the ‘Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal Evam Green Garden (National Site for Dalit Awakening and a Green Garden)’.

While the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister targeted her ire at the Congress,she completely ignored her bete noire the Samajwadi Party. The BJP,however,came under attack,with Mayawati calling L K Advani’s Jan Chetna Yatra a “drama” to boost his prime ministerial aspirations. This will surprise the BJP given that Advani has so far refrained from directly attacking Mayawati in his yatra.

Slammed over her grand project,she listed the numerous memorials in the name of the Nehru-Gandhi family on the banks of the Yamuna river in Delhi and said there were hardly any memorials of Dalit icons Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Kanshiram (the BSP founder).

“While the Congress may make an attempt by supporting a Dalit leader,I’m confident that the BSP’s Dalit support base would not move an inch towards the Congress,” Mayawati said.

She then trained her guns on Sonia Gandhi. “When Manyawar Kanshiramji was not keeping well in 2003,the BJP (NDA government) framed me in a false case over the Taj project and raided me. Sonia Gandhi had telephoned me to express her discomfort. She had also offered her party’s support and assured me that she would ensure justice in the Taj corridor and DA (disproportionate assets) case when the Congress returns to power,” Mayawati said.

“But the Congress-led government at the Centre has not ensured justice… In fact,the Congress has misused official machinery to let the case hang fire,” she said.

Addressing the issue of Anna Hazare and his team,who are planning rallies in Uttar Pradesh,with caution,Mayawati said she would have “no objection” if their campaigns were conducted in a “disciplined manner” without “spreading hatred” among communities.

Digvijaya: Not replacing ‘honest’ Manmohan

Asserting that there is no question of replacing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,as suggested by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati,Digvijaya Singh on Friday hit back at her with corruption charges and accused her of indulging in “self-upliftment” as against the Congress’s fight for the rights of Adivasis,Dalits and weaker sections. “Dr Manmohan Singh is an honest leader. The post is not vacant. So where is the question for another PM?” said Digvijaya,the Congress general secretary in charge of UP.