The BJP criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati over her reported comments on Mahatma Gandhi,saying the BSP chief should study Gandhiji's life and work before making such "rash" statements. Reacting to Mayawati allegedly describing Mahatma Gandhi as a "naatakbaaz" (fake),senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said: "even die-hard supporters like Jawaharlal Nehru did not always agree with Gandhiji but nobody,not even his most vehement critics,have ever questioned his sincerity. "To call him a naatakbaaz and term his politics as theatrics is very unfortunate. I would suggest that Mayawati should study Gandhiji's life and work before making such rash statements," the former HRD minister added. Joshi also disapproved of the UP government's recent decision to keep a number of matters,including appointments of ministers and the code of conduct in force for them,out of the purview of the RTI Act. "The whole purpose of this Act,which is aimed at bringing transparency in administration,gets defeated by limiting its scope. In fact,governments should take the initiative towards bringing more and more matters under the purview of Right to Information," he added. He also took a dig at the performance of the BSP government in the state saying,"those who hope that things will be hunky-dory with a stable central government must not lose sight of what is happening in UP". The senior BJP leader also appealed to all political parties to "rise above petty differences and ensure that the women's reservation bill gets passed as soon as possible". Joshi,however,played down objections raised by various parties,including BJP allies like JD(U),over the bill being passed "in its present form" and the demand for a separate quota for women belonging to lower castes. "All parties,including JD(U),are realising that once 33 per cent of the seats are reserved for women they would be free to choose candidates from whichever social group they wish. This has already been our experience in the Panchayats," he said. Joshi also said the "most unequivocal message that has emerged from results of Lok Sabha elections is the people's non-acceptance of candidates with a criminal background. All parties must seize the opportunity and take effective steps to prevent the entry of people with dubious records into their outfits as they no longer appear winnable".
