Will let you know on UPA, says Mayawati

Barely two days after a vitriolic attack on the Government in the Rajya Sabha over the disproportionate assets cases being pursued against h...

Barely two days after a vitriolic attack on the Government in the Rajya Sabha over the disproportionate assets cases being pursued against her by the CBI, BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday said a decision on withdrawal of support to the UPA would be taken after replies from PM Manmohan Singh and National Advisory Council chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the initiatives taken for the welfare of Dalits.

On Friday, Mayawati had called the CBI ‘‘anti-Dalit’’, charged the Government with misusing it for political vendetta and threatened withdrawal of support if the investigating agency continued to target her. The BSP, which has 18 MPs in the Lok Sabha and six in the Rajya Sabha, had extended outside support to the UPA.

On Sunday, at a press conference in a five-star hotel here, Mayawati said, ‘‘After deliberations with my national executive members, state unit presidents and MPs on continuance of our support to the UPA Government, it has been decided that we will take a decision at an appropriate time.’’

But the postponement didn’t stop her from lashing out at the Government’s shortcomings. She accused the Congress of not fulfilling its electoral promises of safeguarding Dalit interests. ‘‘We extended outside support to the UPA because it promised to protect the interests of Dalits and the downtrodden and to rid the country of communal forces. But the Congress has failed miserably on all counts. Even today, the reservation quota for Dalits is incomplete, as all the posts reserved for them are yet to be filled.’’

‘‘So, after evaluating the performance of the Government, the party will soon decide whether to continue outside support to the UPA,’’ she said.

Asked if she would withdraw support, Mayawati replied, ‘‘We did not spare the NDA, how can we spare the Congress?’’

The BSP chief said she would write letters to Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi seeking answers on the steps taken by the Centre to protect the interest of Dalits. ‘‘I would like to give them a chance to give an explanation. Once I get their replies, I will take a decision,’’ she said.

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‘‘The UPA Government’s promised policies of poverty alleviation are nowhere in sight,’’ she charged, ‘‘There is no difference between the NDA and the UPA as both are manuwadi coalitions. The NDA is a nagnath (king cobra) while the UPA is the saapnath (snake). The only difference is that if a cobra bites, a person dies instantly. But if you are bitten by a snake you die a slow death,’’ Mayawati said.

On the disproportionate assets cases against her, she said, ‘‘Whatever I had to say on the CBI, I have said in Parliament. I don’t wish to repeat it.’’