M A I N   N E W S

Mulayam faces Maya’s ire
R. Suryamurthy
Tribune News Service

Lucknow, April 14
In an apparent act of political vendetta, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today lodged nearly 200 cases against Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and others and instituted an inquiry in 35,000 other cases for alleged financial irregularities.

The Bahujan Samaj Party leader, under fire following the release of two CDs by the SP, announced the lodging of the cases on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Babasahib Ambedkar at the “Maha Pardhafaash” rally.

She also announced that Congress leader Motilal Vora, who was the Governor of the state, had also indulged in financial irregularities during the time of Governor’s rule in the state and the matter would be inquired into.

With this massive rally, she has galvanised the political atmosphere in the state and the coming days could witness heated political campaign and counter-allegations from political rivals. Ms Mayawati has also set the ball rolling for her party’s electoral run for the Lok Sabha and, if things turn out favourable, perhaps for the Assembly polls, as no party enjoys absolute majority in the House.

Amongst those against whom cases have been filed at the Hazaratganj police station include SP President Mulayam Singh Yadav, General Secretary Amar Singh, the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, Mohd Azam Khan, and state General Secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav.

The cases pertain to doctoring of BSP tapes, maligning Mayawati, misusing discretionary quota, giving threats and hurling abuses on political opponents.

She said in the initial inquiry financial misappropriation of Rs 3.70 crore against Mr Yadav had come to light and cases had been registered in 40 different districts of the state.

The rally, a massive show of strength with the entire city administration engaged in making it a success and turning the city into “blue”, was organised by the BSP to not only defend its side of the story regarding the alleged doctored CDs but also to send a message to the political opponents that they would be targeted if they tried to tarnish the image of the BSP or its leaders.

On the tapes released by Mr Yadav, she said “they have released the tapes systematically to tarnish the image of the party and its leaders and to run down the government.”

Narrating the timings and the sequence of events preceding the release of the tapes, the BSP leader said the first tape was released 24 hours before the no-confidence motion was taken up by the House and the second one was released to derail the working alliance with the BJP and her plans to expose the SP’s game.

Alleging that the Congress and other political parties were tacitly supporting Mr Yadav in tarnishing the image of the BSP, she warned that they would be dealt with sternly.

Categorically stating that the BSP would align with the BJP to contest the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, she said in other states the party would contest on its own.

Addressing the rallyists Ms Mayawati gave enough indications that they should be prepared for another round of Assembly polls soon and warned that several political outfits had been pushed to the forefront by the Congress and the SP to capture the Dalit vote bank.

In a move to consolidate her party’s vote bank, she stated that the relationship with the BJP was based on a common minimum programme and the two parties continued to have ideological differences.

Taking the SP’s challenge by the horn, Ms Mayawati narrated the close links of Mr Yadav and the Bharatiya Jan Sangh and the BJP. She said the SP leader had been in government with the support of the BJS and was the Chief Minister with the support of the BJP.

Criticising the existence of feudal practices in Hindu religion, which debarred dalits from entering temples and other social malise, she urged the Hindu religious leaders to change such social practices otherwise she along with BSP founder Kanshi Ram and thousands of other dalits would convert themselves to Buddhism.

Mulayam sees Maya conspiracy
Tribune News Service

Goraya, April 14
The Samajwadi Party President, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, and the General Secretary, Mr Amar Singh, today accused the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Ms Mayawati of hobnobbing with the RSS and the BJP-led Central Government for hatching a series of conspiracies to harm the image of both of them and the Samajwadi Party.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Yadav and Mr Amar Singh, alleged that Ms Mayawati, who had become an “epitome of corruption”, was busy hatching conspiracies against both of them, even after knowing fully well that people of Uttar Pradesh would not tolerate any such things. “We openly declare that we don’t fear our arrest. Why should we when people are with us” thundered Mr Yadav and Mr Amar Singh in unison. Asserting that the contents of videotape pertaining to Mayawati were truthful. Mr Amar Singh said he would shun politics forever in case anybody proved that the contents were not true. Referring to the Mayawati supporters’ demand that he should tender an apology for his allegations against the Chief Minister, Mr Yadav said, “We support our charges against Mayawati. We owe full responsibility about these.”

Lamenting the “corrupt regime” being headed by Ms Mayawati, Mr Yadav and Mr Amar Singh said state-level cycle rally being organised by their party in the Uttar Pradesh was aimed at “exposing the corrupt policies being pursued by the Mayawati government with the help of the BJP. We also demand a high-level CBI inquiry so that the Mayawati regime can be exposed,” said Mr Yadav and Mr Amar Singh adding in a lighter vein, that a “probe in an area of one and a half square kilometres around the official residence of Ms Mayawati can alone fetch so many proofs which would be sufficient for sending her to jail for life term”.

Coming down heavily upon these who were levelling allegations that he had an “anti-Hindu” approach, Mr Yadav said he worshipped humanity. “I am also a devotee of Lord Hanuman. You can imagine pretty well whether I can bear anti-Hindu approach or not. Certain people are dubbing me as a ‘pro-Muslim’, that too, has been done by some elements at the instance of the RSS. On the other hand, the BJP was a mute spectator to statements of Ms Mayawati, which are enough to hurt sentiments of a common Hindu,” said Mr Yadav, adding that he had full faith in judiciary,” since it has always honoured my truth.

Talking about Punjab, the SP leaders maintained that since both the Congress and the SAD-BJP combine failed to fulfil had the aspirations of people for long, there was an urgent need for setting up a third front in the state. “The SP’s state unit President, Mr Tiwana, has already been authorised for taking necessary action towards that direction. He will be holding parleys with leaders of various parties, which can join hands and form a third front in the state,” said Mr Yadav.

Later, the SP leaders also addressed a function organised by the Akali leader, Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala, at nearby Sangh Dhesian village, where a small group of Bahujan Samaj Party workers raised anti-Mulayam Singh Yadav slogans.

Mr Mulayam Singh said there was no truth in allegations of misuse of discretionary funds, levelled against him by Ms Mayawati at “pardafash’ rally at Lucknow today.

Mr Mulayam Singh, who was here to attend a rally organised on the occasion of Baisakhi by the Akali Dal (Democratic), said he was willing to face a CBI inquiry.

He said he was also ready to go to jail to safeguard democracy in Uttar Pradesh. He said he was ready to do anything for the betterment of the state and ending corruption there.