Mayawati targets Modi over Una Dalit atrocity incident

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Thursday launched a vitriolic attack on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), alleging that on one hand they talk of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas', but on the other target Dalits and Muslims in the name of 'gau raksha' (cow protection).

"BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), RSS, Shiv Sena and their other organisations, under a well thought out plan first targeted Muslims in the name of cow protection and now they are targeting Dalits," she alleged while addressing a Dalit gathering after meeting family members of the victims in Ahmedabad.

"Narendra Modi, who belongs to Gujarat, says 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas', but in reality there is no development for Dalits, only few industrialists and businessmen are getting the fruits of development," she said.

She warned the BJP and the RSS to stop committing atrocities against Dalits as they are not going to tolerate it anymore.

Mayawati asked Dalits to form an alliance with Muslims and try to form a government in Gujarat.

"You have to seek justice from the BJP government for Una incident. You need to form an alliance with Muslims and try to form a government here so that you do not have to seek justice but you are in the position give justice," she said.

Later, speaking to reporters at the Ahmedabad civil hospital where she went to meet the four Dalit victims, Mayawati claimed that BJP deliberately created a situation to keep her away from visiting Gujarat as it will send out a wrong message about the party and government.

She alleged that BJP under a well thought out plan made one of its leaders in Uttar Pradesh, Dayashankar Singh, use indecent words against her, and the party sought Gujarat Chief Minister's Anandiben Patel's resignation timing with her announcement to visit the state, so that she does not come.

"Ever since BJP came to power at Centre, people from weaker sections, including Dalits, adivasis and other backward class, are under attack in the entire country and especially in BJP-ruled states," she said.

"Muslims and Christians are among religious minorities that are under attack. In upper caste, the poor are also not happy but Dalits are the most unhappy," she said.