Mayawati woos upper castes ahead of 2014 polls

Lucknow: Making fresh efforts to woo upper castes ahead of the forthcoming general elections, BSP chief Mayawati today announced names of 36 candidates for Lok Sabha polls, 18 out of whom belong to upper caste.

She alleged that atrocities were being committed on upper castes in the Samajwadi Party government's regime.

"Just like Dalits, atrocities are being committed on Brahmins under the Samajwadi Party government," Mayawati told reporters on the sidelines of Brahmin Bhaichara Samiti office bearers' meeting here.

Citing the example of Etawah where a Brahmin family was recently humiliated and defaced, Mayawati said most of those in the echelons of power in the SP government come from that district and it is a well-known fact that people belonging to 'sarv samaj' (all castes) are harassed there.

"But atrocities on Brahmins is much more in Etawah...When the incident took place, BSP raised it in the Assembly. Besides, its local unit tried to take up the issue and help them get justice," Mayawati said.

She said her party had prepared a campaign to ensure that upper castes do not get influenced by the "wrong propaganda" of the opposition parties.

"For ensuring that they (upper castes) do not get influenced by the wrong propaganda of opposition parties and apprising them of the various works done by the BSP government a detailed programme has been worked out," she said.

She emphasised that her party was not for any particular caste or religion and had worked for all when in power and given them equal representation.

She said when her party raised the issue of promotion in reservation, it was projected as if it was something new when it was already being implemented since 1955 with some gaps in between.

Mayawati said reservation in promotion was pending in the Lok Sabha because of opposition from the Congress and BJP and her party would put forth its views again in the next session of Parliament.

"BSP also did not oppose inclusion of some OBC castes in the SC\ST list with the condition that the quota be also increased," she said, adding, when in power she had taken up the cause of reservation for religious minorities as well as economically backward upper castes.

On why upper castes had become disenchanted with the BSP in the last Assembly polls, she said, "Though our vote percentage rose, we lost seats due to internal understanding of our opponents' (Congress and BJP) conspiracy and planning but we have learnt a lesson and would not allow them to succeed this time," she said.

To a question, she reiterated her demand for imposition of President's Rule in Uttar Pradesh alleging dismal law and order situation in the state.