Only BSP serious over pvt sector reservation: Maya

Bhopal, Feb 10 (UNI) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today claimed that no political party except the BSP was serious over the issue of reservation for Dalits and backward classes in private sector jobs.

Launching her party's poll campaign here in view of Madhya Pradesh's assembly elections scheduled later this year, she said, ''No other party favours reservation in private companies. If the BSP comes to power at the Centre, it will ensure such reservation.'' Addressing the party's Madhya Pradesh-level Sarvasamaj Bhaichara Banao Maharally at the Lal Parade Ground, the visiting chief minister pointed out that her government had decided that every private player setting up industry in Uttar Pradesh would have to follow her regime's reservation policy whereby 10 per cent reservation each would have to be provided to Dalits, backward classes and upper caste poor.

''Even 60 years after India's independence, development of Dalits has not taken place. They have been used solely as a votebank.

Political parties lure the segment by making several favourable pre-election announcements but those are not implemented later,'' Ms Mayawati said.

Pointing out that the Madhya Pradesh hustings would have to be won in the wake of Uttar Pradesh, she added that preparations would have to be made for the general elections. The leader repeatedly clarified that the BSP was not a party of any one caste, class or religion but a party that believed in ''Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay.'' Referring to her regime's welfare schemes, Ms Mayawati claimed, ''adequate representation has been given to upper castes in the Uttar Pradesh government.'' Earlier, BSP General Secretary Satish Mishra also addressed the gathering. Several of Ms Mayawati's ministerial colleagues, party leaders and officials, besides workers from various parts of this state, were present. The BSP's Madhya Pradesh unit presented Rs 1 crore to Ms Mayawati on an imposing stage. The party claimed that the amount was collected from workers.

The BSP staged about 100 Brahmin and Kshatriya conventions over roughly the past six months in this state.

Ms Mayawati reached here by special plane and arrived at Lal Parade Ground by helicopter from the airport. Senior Uttar Pradesh Police and commandoes were part of her security detail.

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