Mayawati accuses BJP of using CBI to blackmail her

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to trouble her with a disproportionate assets case.

Addressing Savdhan Vishal Maha rally here today at Ramabai Ambedkar grounds, Mayawati said, "In 2003, the BJP felt that it was an opportune moment to hold elections and have a national alliance with the BSP. So, they blackmailed me saying that if my party does not support them, then they will withdraw their support from the state government and will give it to the SP."

"I did not accept their demands. I resigned from the Chief Ministership the same year," she added.

She alleged, "Afterwards they used the CBI to blackmail me in the disproportionate assets case. They tried to frame me in the case which was made up by them. They troubled me with this case for several years. But I didn't budge."

She also alleged that the BSP government spent lakhs of rupees on welfare schemes but they were all stopped by the SP government, once they came to power.

Making a reference to the Muzaffarnagar riots, Mayawati alleged, "Uttar Pradesh has today become a crime capital, due to communal riots. People in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli have not been able to recover."

"The people of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli have not been able to recover from their loss. The central government should have put President's rule and worked to build communal harmony in the area. But the BJP, Congress and SP are playing politics in the matter," she added.

She also ruled out any alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and said, "We have to be prepared for a direct fight. It is important to take strong steps against casteist agenda of the opposition parties. We also have to unite people of upper caste fed up of the Congress, BJP and SP.