Maya's social engineering earns praise from Deve Gowda

New Delhi, May 12 (UNI) The social engineering, attempted sucessfully by Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, was today praised by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda while congratulating her on the party's victory.

In a letter to Ms Mayawati, Mr Gowda said her efforts to bring together diverse castes and communities would serve as a role model for bringing harmony in the society and strengthening national integration.

Ms Mayawati had, this time, given tickets to a large number of upper caste people, much against her party's fundamental distance from these castes.

The former prime minister described her success as ''an outright rejection of the casteist, communal and anti-poor policies by the electorate of the state.'' ''I am confident that your leadership would not only bring about the much needed stability and prosperity to Uttar Pradesh but also inspire millions of people across the country to raise their voice against forces of oppression and exploitation,'' he said.

UNI