Mayawati promises reservation to poor among upper castes

Lucknow, Oct 19 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today promised to provide reservation to the poor among the upper castes if the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) came to power at the national level.

While addressing a convention of upper castes here, Mayawati said, "The reservation on the basis of economic and other parameters will enable the upper caste community members to address their problems, especially those related to poverty and unemployment."

Mayawati also said that she has already written a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in this regard.

With the next Lok Sabha elections round the corner, Mayawati held the Congress Party responsible for the sorry status of the poor belonging to the upper castes.

Post-Independence, the Congress has ruled the country and this state most of the time, but it never thought seriously of addressing the problems of upper castes, she said.

While accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misguiding the upper castes, Mayawati said: "The BJP projects itself as a custodian of upper caste rights. But during my three earlier stint (as chief minister) when BSP ruled with the support of BJP, the latter always pressurised us to drop the welfare schemes for the upper caste community members."

She also called upon the upper castes to join hands with Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes "in order to get the key to the Central and the State Governments".

Mayawati, while talking about the representation of various upper castes in the Lok Sabha and the assembly, said: "The BSP ticket will be given only to those who can solicit full support of their community members." The BSP supremo also accused the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government of not taking adequate steps for the all-round development of the state.

ANI