Lucknow: With all eyes set on the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Sunday raked up the demonetisation drive and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should be ready to face its repercussion in the politically crucial state.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the BJP should be ready to face the consequences of their decision in the Uttar Pradesh polls as the move has rendered 90 percent of people cashless.
"It's been over 50 days post demonetisation and yet the Prime Minister has not said how much black money has been recovered," she said.
Addressing a press conference in Lucknow on her birthday, Mayawati asserted that BSP was the only party that could stop BJP’s march in the state. The BSP chief celebrated her birthday this time without usual fanfare in view of the model code of conduct being in force in the state.
"The coming elections will be very important in many aspects. If BSP comes to power with full majority in UP, then it will check BJP and the central government to some extent from taking decisions like note-ban. SP's goonda and jungle raj will be wiped out from the state," said the BSP supremo.
Also terming the Samajwadi Party’s government as jungle raj, Mayawati said the party is known for nepotism. She further added that the people have to choose between the “tainted face” of Akhilesh Yadav or the “clean face” of BSP which will wipe out communal elements.
Ruling out alliances for the upcoming polls, Mayawati rubbished allegations being levelled against her brother Anand Kumar.
"If my family members were really indulging in illegal practices then why did they not react so far?" asked Mayawati.
Mayawati's brother Anand Kumar is under the IT scanner after his assets reportedly increased 174 times during her stint as the Chief Minister.
Kumar's fortunes during the seven-year period between 2007 and 2014 reportedly climbed up from Rs 7.5 crore to Rs 1,316 crore.
Meanwhile, Mayawati also played the Dalit card and while referring to the Rohith Vemula case. She said that condemning incidents against people from backward classes will not solve the problem. She added that equal rights as per the Indian Constitution should be guaranteed to them.
"Merely condoling or condemning incidents of crime against Dalits won't help. They demand equality guaranteed under our Constitution," said Mayawati.
The Assembly elections in the most populous and politically crucial state will be held in seven phases beginning February 11.
