BSP chief Mayawati addressing the party workers at a function to commemorate ninth death anniversary of the party founder Kanshiram in Lucknow on Friday, October 9, 2015. (Press Trust of India file photo)
Wooing upper caste voters in favour of BSP candidates, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today promised quota for them in government jobs and education if her party came to power in the state.
"The socio-economic condition of upper caste poor is as bad as that of their brethren in other communities in Bihar ... my party will provide quota for them in government jobs and education if elected to power," she told an election meeting here in favour of Shamim Ahmed, the BSP candidate from Karahgar Assembly seat in Rohtas district.
Ms Mayawati, a four-term Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, rued that nothing had changed as far as the plight of poor people was concerned in all these years since Independence, and blamed the successive governments for deficient governance and lack of priorities.
Charging the NDA as well as the 'Grand Alliance' with making false promises for the weaker sections, farmers and labourers, the BSP chief said these parties would conveniently renege from their promises once they were installed in power.
Ms Mayawati accused the NDA of working in the interest of corporates only and alleged that the Centre was out to scrap the reservation policy for OBCs and SC/STs under the RSS's influence.
The BSP, however, would oppose tooth and nail any attempt to tweak reservation policy, she thundered.