Anti-Mayawati rant: Don't create hype for political gains, says Naidu

In wake of the protests being staged across the nation by the BSP workers to vent their ire against Dayashankar Singh's slur on former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said the BJP has already taken action against the defaulter, adding that this episode is being unnecessary hyped for political gains.

Naidu said the Opposition parties, especially the BSP, are taking undue advantage of this issue to malign the BJP's image in the state going for polls next year as they are aware about the fact that the saffron outfit would give them a tough competition.

"The issue has ended; we have taken action against him (Dayashankar). The moment our leader made that statement, Arun Jaitley ji in the House (Rajya Sabha) expressed regret. We first expelled him from the post and then suspended him from the party," said Naidu.

"Now, if the parties want to protest what can we do? The thing is that the BJP is flourishing and the other parties are not able to digest it, and are doing it for political gains," he added.

Naidu further said the BSP is scared of the BJP as its image in Uttar Pradesh is improving.

"And we are a tough competitor for the BSP and this why the BSP is protesting against us to malign our image in the state. But we do not care because I believe the people of the state will make an impression about us on the basis of our work," he added.

Enraged with Dayashankar's derogatory remark against Mayawati, the BSP workers are staging a protest across the country, demanding the arrest of suspended BJP state vice-president.

The protests are being held at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi, the Hazratganj area in Lucknow, Chandigarh and several other cities of the country where the BSP has a strong political backing.

The BJP yesterday expelled Dayashankar Singh from the party for six years.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday expressed 'personal regret' in Parliament over Singh's remark.

"It is not right and I condemn the use of this word. And if a person has said this, we will investigate. I express personal regret. I associate with your dignity and stand with you," Jaitley told Mayawati in the Rajya Sabha.

The BSP chief on her part thanked Jaitley and other leaders in the Rajya Sabha for supporting her on this matter.

"There are war of thoughts and ideas in the House, but never have I used derogatory words against anyone ever," Mayawati said.

"Dayashankar Singh should be arrested otherwise if in response to this the people get violent, it will not be on my conscience," she added.