Mayawati slams SP govt, demands imposition of Prez rule

Coming down hard on the Akhilesh Yadav government for the Badaun gangrape case, BSP supremo Mayawati today said transferring and suspending officers will not help and the SP government needs to tighten the noose around its own patymen.

Reiterating her demand for imposition of President's rule in the state, she said, "If the state government is unable to control the situation then in the interest of the people it should relinquish power. Otherwise we again request the Governor to recommend President rule," she said.

Mayawati said that Centre should also take an initiative in this direction, otherwise the people of the state would not forgive BJP along with the SP.

The BSP chief was talking to reporters before leaving for Badaun to meet the family members of two cousin Dalit girls, who were gangraped and later hanged.

"Only transferring and suspending officers will not improve the situation. They have to tighten the noose around their own party people," she said.

While referring to SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's statement on capital punishment in rape cases, the BSP supremo alleged, "It is the result of extending wrong support to save rape accused that his own partymen are committing such incidents in which the police is also involved."

Mayawati said she generally avoids visiting such places but is making an exception in this case to mount pressure for a CBI inquiry.

"I used to avoid visiting the spot in such cases so that the ruling party does not get a chance to accuse me of making an effort to draw political advantage. But in this case to create pressure for CBI inquiry I have to break the rule."

Mayawati claimed that if she had not decided to visit Badaun, then probably the state government would not have recommended a CBI inquiry even till now.

She said a speedy inquiry should be conducted in the matter and the accused should be given "harsh punishment and hanged".

On a question regarding removal of Chief Secretary Javed Usmani from his post, the BSP supremo alleged, "SP government does not appoint Muslims, upper caste and OBC officers on key posts in public interest, but to take political advantage. As far as Dalit officers are concerned they have no importance in this government and are discriminated."

She said Usmani had all the qualities but was removed after the SP government allegedly took political advantage of him to appease Muslims during Lok Sabha polls.

Terming new Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan as a good officer, Mayawati said, "The manner in which the SP government is politicising officers, it is demoralising them and the people do not get the whole benefit of their abilities.