BSP workers held a protest in Lucknow's Hazratganj area over the derogatory remark made against Mayawati.
Highlights
- BSP workers protest against sacked BJP leader Dayashankar Singh
- Case filed against him on Wednesday evening, BSP demands arrest
- Dayashankar Singh compared BSP chief Mayawati to a prostitute
The BJP acted swiftly to sack its Uttar Pradesh leader Dayashankar Singh over his outrageous comments on Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, but her party workers are out in the hundreds in the heart of state capital Lucknow demanding that he be arrested.
There is heavy security as BSP workers have poured into Lucknow and are protesting at a statue of Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar in the Hazratganj area and at the BJP's office in the city.
Ms Mayawati's party had also filed a police case last evening against Dayashankar Singh, who was seen on camera comparing Ms Mayawati to a prostitute in comments that are too offensive to be reproduced verbatim.
BJP's UP leader Dayashankar Singh was seen on camera comparing BSP chief Mayawati to a prostitute.
He was removed as a vice president of the party in Uttar Pradesh soon after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley expressed "personal regret" in Parliament, telling Ms Mayawati: "It is not right and I condemn the use of this word and if a person has said this, we will investigate. I express personal regret. I associate with your dignity and stand with you."
The BJP's Uttar Pradesh chief Keshav Prasad Maurya said this morning that the "issue should stop here" after his party took action against Mr Singh. "His remark was wrong. He was sacked from the party. This issue should stop here."
BSP workers have poured into Lucknow and are protesting at a statue of Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar.
Mr Maurya said the BSP must not "make it a political issue," adding that the police would now act against Mr Singh "as needed."
Dayashankar Singh had later apologized saying, "I can't even think of Mayawatiji that way. She has come up after a lot of struggle."
But the BSP is not ready to let the BJP off the hook just yet, as the pace gathers for crucial elections in Uttar Pradesh now months away.
"Everyone calls me sister or behenji even in Parliament. What that BJP leader said, he said to his sister and his daughter. The country will not forgive the BJP for this," Ms Mayawati promised in Parliament on Wednesday, as other opposition parties rallied behind her, forcing the BJP to make quick amends.
BSP workers from different districts in UP have been asked to reach the state capital to lodge a strong protest against the remarks made by the BJP leader, the party said.