Mayawati calls BJP anti-Dalit

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati Thursday attacked the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre of being anti-Dalit.

At a press conference here on her 59th birthday, she said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government has disappointed the nation so far.

She also announced that her party would contest the Delhi assembly polls from all the 70 seats, and alleged that the BJP is using all tactics to lure Dalits.

"The BJP is trying to breach the Dalit votes by offering various things," Mayawati said, adding her party has been pressing for reservations in private jobs but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been opposing it.

The BSP chief said if the BJP won the Delhi elections, the reservation movement would take a back seat.

She accused Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal of being more anti-Dalit than the BJP and said the former Delhi chief minister was being driven by anti-Dalit mindset.

The BJP reacted sharply to the jibes of Mayawati and accused her of losing the plot in her blind pursuit of power and in the wake of debacle in the polls.

"She (Mayawati) can say anything but all her statements and charges against the BJP are baseless and people know it," BJP state spokesman Chandra Mohan said.

Contrary to previous years, especially when she was ruling the state between 2007-2012, extravagance at her birthday was missing this year.

Only her party loyalists, state leaders went to her house to greet her. Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) state president Munna Singh Chauhan presented her a bouquet. RLD chief Ajit Singh wished her by phone.