'Mayawati politicising Kanshi Ram's demise'

Varanasi, Oct 9: Indian Justice Party (IJP) chief Udit Raj today accused BSP president Mayawati of playing politics even on the demise of her mentor Kanshi Ram, by pressing for his funeral as per Buddhist rituals.

''She (Mayawati) is playing politics even with the death of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, by pressing for his funeral as per Buddhist rituals against the wishes of the latter's family, who wanted his last rights be performed in consonance with Sikhism,'' he alleged while talking to newspersons here.

Dr Raj, a known critic of the BSP president, further alleged that Ms Mayawati's decision of not allowing party workers to contest local body polls in Uttar Pradesh on party symbol was aimed at preserving her sole dominance in the party formed for the upliftment of Dalits.

''By not allowing BSP workers to contest on party symbol, Ms Mayawati has proved once again that she is only concerned with the furtherance of her personal interest and not the collective good of party rank and file,'' Dr Raj said.

He further appealed the BSP workers to leave the party and join IJP to avenge her whimsical functioning.

A constituent of former Prime Minister V P Singh's Jan Morcha (JM), the IJP will not only raise the issue of non-performance of the Mulayam Singh Yadav led-UP government during the next assembly polls, but also expose the anti-Dalit designs of BSP president, who was day dreaming of becoming the state chief minister for the second time, Dr Raj maintained.

On the Dadri March Mukti Sangram Abhiyan of Jan Morcha -- state wide trek on farmer's issues -- Dr Raj said the March will reach neighbouring Azamgarh tomorrow, to be marked by a massive rally, which will be attended among others by V P Singh and JM convenor Raj Babbar.

The march started from Kushinagar in East UP on September 23 and will culminate at Dadri in West UP on November 24.

UNI