Mayawati exploiting Ambedkar's name for political gains

Lucknow, Apr 14 (UNI) Accusing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati of politically exploiting the name of Dr B R Ambedkar, UP BJP president Rampati Ram Tripathi today objected to any effort to glorify Periyar in the state.

'' The recent act by parties like the Indian Justice Party(IJP) and others demanding installation of the statue of Periyar will not be tolerated by the BJP at any cost,'' he said.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Tripathi said the Chief Minister should order strict action against outfits trying to glorify Periyar, and if the UP government failed to do so, the BJP would be forced to deal with them.

'' Ms Mayawati in the assembly recently had also assured the members that no programme to glorify Periyar would be allowed by her government,'' he said while justifying his partymen's act of blackening Periyar's poster yesterday in the state capital.

Criticising the BSP government, the BJP state president said the recent controversies like release of an 'anti-Ram' CD in Basti and glorification of Periyar, who had issued statements against Lord Ram and other Hindu dieties in his book 'Sachchi Ramayan', were part of efforts to create caste clash in the state.

Commenting on the speech of Ms Mayawati this morning during the Ambedkar Jayanti function, he said, ''now the BSP is only trying to gain political mileage by taking the name of such a big personality''.

Mr Tripathi said Ms Mayawati was using the name of Ambedkar for political reasons undermining the greatness of the leader, who had championed the cause of the downtrodden.

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