Mayawati urges backward classes to 'teach lesson' to selfish leaders

Nagpur, Jan 28 (UNI) Asserting that selfish elements have ripped apart the political organisation founded by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati today called upon the backward classes to 'teach a lesson' to Republican Party of India (RPI) leaders during the February 1 civic elections in Maharashtra.

Addressing an election rally at the historic Kasturchand Park grounds here, Ms Mayawati said the RPI had veered away from Dr Ambedkar's philosophy and playing into the hands of Manuwadi elements.

Some factions of the RPI were with the Samajwadi Party (SP) for the forthcoming civic polls in Mumbai. This was very unfortunate, because it was under the rule of the SP that a statue of Dr Ambedkar was desecrated in Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), she said.

''RPI leaders are great actors. They swear by Dr Ambedkar's ideology and seek votes from the backward classes in his name, but in reality, they work against his principles and insult him,'' the BSP chief said.

She urged the backward classes to vote for the BSP candidates as they only could ensure all-round development of the backward classes.

The party had done it while in power in Uttar Pradesh, she claimed.

Training her guns on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ms Mayawati said he had enough time to go to Ardh Kumbh to take a holy dip but he could not visit the two young girls who were raped a few days ago of his going there.

The Chief Minister had announced a compensation for the victims, but did not deem it fit to hand over the cheques personally, she criticised.

''I visited the place a day after the incident, and gave the Madarssa authorities Rs 5 lakh to arrange for private security,'' Ms Mayawati said.

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