Lucknow:
On the sixth death anniversary of her mentor Kanshi Ram, Mayawati is addressing thousands of her supporters at a rally at the Ambedkar Park in Lucknow. She began her speech with a scathing attack on the state government headed by the Samajwadi Party (SP).
Here are the highlights of her address:
- We have gathered here in lakhs to pay our tribute to Kanshi Ram - I thank you all for coming.
- I strongly condemn the Congress government at the Centre for not declaring a day of mourning in the country when Kanshi Ram died.
- October 9 was declared as a state government holiday by us but that was rescinded by the SP govt three days ago.
- SP's Lohia Park was not tampered by the BSP government; we did not build a hospital on the land around the park or tamper with the statues there.
- You must never forgive the other parties for the treatment meted out to Mr Kanshi Ram. We must expose their casteist mentality.
- He (Kanshi Ram) gave me the entire responsibility of the movement to me - the sole inheritor of his political legacy.
- I have been trying to take the movement forward in his name.
- People are not being able to digest the recognition given to him - the districts and educational institutions named after him SP has renamed many institutions named after Kanshi Ram and other Dalit leaders.
- The state government has not only broken my statue but also a dozen statues of Dr BR Ambedkar.
- The bill to get reservations for backward classes is still pending in Parliament.
- The SP's role has been particularly heinous in this regard.
- I have put down my view in this book, which will be given to you.
- Due to this mentality, other than Yadavs, all other sections of backward classes are feeling ostracised and they are being targeted.
- We had kept the interests of the OBC community in UP at the forefront and that included Yadavs.
- We also do not see them particularly interested in promoting the interests of the Muslims in UP.
- The BSP has also recommended that people of upper castes be given reservations based on economic criteria - we have written to the Centre repeatedly.
- The law and order situation in the state has also deteriorated after the SP came to power.
- People of this state will regret voting this government I had said - and this has come true.
- We don't have rule of law in this state - it is being ruled by the goons and mafia of the Samjwadi Party.
- Those whom we had put behind bars were set free by this government.
- If it weren't for Dr Ambedkar you would have seen Mulayam Singh and family members handling the buffaloes of upper caste persons.
- Everyone knows that during our government's time our policies were based on inclusiveness to allow entire society to benefit from it.
- Samajwadi workers and ministers are extorting money for party funds from officers.
- SP is forced to go back on their own decisions in 24 hours and most development projects are on paper only
- The present CM is a bigger "announcement CM" than his father.
- They are inaugurating projects which were initiated by my government - like the Noida-Agra Expressway.
- Their election promise of giving people tablets, personal computers to students will only benefit children of SP workers and then they will be found on the black market.
- The SP government is promoting corruption. A senior minister says - don't loot your department - and by that he means, leave that for us. He wants officers to work hard and then make a little money on the side.
- I must tell the government - if they find my ministers or officers during my regime involved in corruption, act against them. My party will not oppose. But that should not be political.
- The SP has stopped many of our welfare schemes to take political revenge against us.
- Common people can't get anything done by government officials without paying a bribe.
- Samajwadi is constantly making allegations about corruption against me but they should examine their own record.
- SP government is giving away sarees to poor women, but sarees cannot solve a poor woman's problems. What will she do with it if she has no food?
- We must also concentrate on the assembly elections that will be held in the next few months in other states so that our party can deliver good results.
- If any of my relatives tries for tickets from our party or any other party, then I will break off all relations with them.
- I had planned to come to the rally by helicopter and not by road, but the Akhilesh government didn't give me permission.
- They have tried to thwart this Maharally - I promise you when we come back to power, I will have this investigated and officers responsible will be punished.
- Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son will not be able to save them.
- Your cars have been stopped miles away, trains stopped in the middle - but inspite of such difficulties 9-10 lakh people have come here to listen to me ; I thank you for that.
- I must tell my brothers from Maharashtra who have come here in large numbers - the state has been the karmabhoomi of BR Ambedkar. You have great respect for him, but when it comes to elections that doesn't reflect in your ballots.
- I must appeal to government officers that while they cannot be involved in politics, they can raise awareness.
- If we have a government at the Centre, officers from SC/ ST and Backward classes will be taken care of -reservation quotas in jobs and promotions will be taken care of.
Mayawati on FDI in multi-brand retail and the UPA government - We will meet tomorrow and discuss whether we should continue to back the UPA government or not.
- We don't support FDI in retail in the current situation, but if it helps farmers and people we will reconsider our decision.
- Cannot rule out the possibility of early elections.
- You must not get swayed by UPA's dynasty politics, don't encourage them.
- Otherwise UPA govt will come to power again and you will face anti-people policies again.
- People from Madhya Pradesh are walking to Delhi, but they will be disappointed. In 60 years after independence, no landless adivasi has been given land by any other party - their lands have been taken away.