Mayawati terms EC anti-dalit

Gopalganj (Bihar): Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati Thursday alleged that the Election Commission (EC) has an anti-dalit mindset and that was why it had stopped her from campaigning in Agra, considered the ‘Dalit capital’ of northern India.

She also claimed that BJP leaders are taking the Army’s name in their poll speeches violating the model code of conduct, but the EC is keeping mum. Ms Mayawati, a dalit leader, also described the proposed ‘NYAY’ scheme as the ‘jumla’ of the Congress.

“The EC, which has an anti-dalit mindset, stopp-ed me from campaigning in the capital of dalits, Agra. Victory of BSP candidates in order to form its government at the Centre will be the appropriate reply to the Commission,” she said at a poll meeting.

The EC had imposed a 48-hour ban from 6 am on Tuesday on Ms Mayawati on campaigning for her “provocative” communal remarks which, it said, had the “propensity to polarise the elections”.

The former UP chief minister was scheduled to campaign in Agra on Tuesday.

Attacking the Congress, she described the proposed minimum income scheme ‘NYAY’ as ‘jumla’.

“We do not believe in jumlas like the Congress which promises to provide Rs 6,000 as minimum income. We will give permanent jobs to farmers in government and private sectors if BSP comes to power at the Centre,” Ms Mayawati said.