NEW DELHI: Dalit czarina Mayawati ridiculed as "drama" Sonia Gandhi's pursuit of the Samajwadi Party MP, who tore up the 'promotion quota' bill in the Lok Sabha.
In an interview with TOI, she said that the Congress took up the quota issue six years too late after the Supreme Court order in Nagaraj case and lacked the sincerity that it displayed on women's reservation bill in the Rajya Sabha in March, 2010.
"There was similar situation on women's quota bill but government asked the chair to call the marshals. The women's bill reached fruition when marshals were used. If the Centre was sincere on dalit quota bill, they should have done the same," Mayawati told TOI.
Asked if Sonia's pursuit of the SP MP, who snatched the bill from the minister, did not show commitment, Mayawati remarked, "That was pure theatre."
The BSP leader's assault on the Congress president has set the stage for war of credits between the women chieftains. A livid Mayawati is making no bones about her belief that Congress was the villain of the quota piece, while ignoring the voice of dissent from the BJP.
The bitterness seems rooted in hard-nosed political calculations. Mayawati views the Congress as bigger threat among all rivals since they share overlapping vote banks like dalits and Muslims. With hostilities over reservations unlikely to abate till the legislation is passed, the BSP chief can be trusted to raise the pitch against the Centre.
However, she said the BSP would not withdraw support to the Congress-led Centre even as she trashed the UPA tenure as a failure. "The Centre has failed on all fronts. But we do not want to withdraw and give them chance to tell people that had BSP backed us for one year more, we would have done amazing things for them," she said.
Mayawati rubbished the notion she was supporting UPA despite visible unhappiness because she cannot face the elections at the moment, having been ousted from Uttar Pradesh only nine months ago. "I would prefer elections today over tomorrow," she said, adding the SP government's misrule already has people pining for her regime.
'Samajwadi Party behind stir'
In her trademark acerbic tone, she said Mulayam Singh's bid to use 'promotion quota' bill to instigate upper castes and OBCs against BSP would come a cropper. She said the protest strike by employees in UP was orchestrated by SP, which distributed money to incite people and by the state government which shut down offices to force employees to come out on the streets. "Why are there no protests outside UP? Are there no uppercastes in other states? It is because they know that reservation in promotion is given to dalits since 1995 and is nothing new," she said.
Playing her own strategy to box Mulayam in narrower identity prism, the BSP chief asked, "Yadavs are occupying all top posts today. What have non-Yadav OBCs, upper castes and Muslims got in last nine months?" She said people of UP would not be misled by Mulayam's propaganda because they know that Samajwadi Party is only the "well-wisher of criminals and mafia".
Excerpts of the interview with Mayawati:
Who is responsible for stalling the bill?
What we saw in the Lok Sabha on December 19-20, it seems the Congress is not sincere in passing the bill. Some SP MPs tore up the bill when it was tabled. There was a similar situation in the Rajya Sabha (in 2010) when women's reservation bill came and government asked the chair to call the marshals to evict the protesting MPs. Women's bill reached fruition when marshals were used. Should not Congress have asked for marshals now? If the Centre was sincere, they would have done the same.
Sonia Gandhi took personal interest and even tried to stop the MP who snatched the bill from minister?
That was pure theatre. If Congress's high command was sincere, they would have asked the chair to call the marshals. This was just a drama.
SP thinks its protest against the quota bill would unite upper castes and OBCs in its favour?
People of UP are very aware. They know SP is not a well-wisher of anyone but goons and mafia. Even among OBCs, its focus is only on Yadavs. Mulayam Singh Yadav had barred the appointment of upper castes in government jobs, 35 lakh appointments were stalled. I removed the ban. In nine months of SP rule, how many upper castes have got the jobs? But see, Yadavs are occupying all the top posts. Where are other OBCs, Muslims? Mulayam Singh shouts a lot about Muslims but SP should look within. SP promised in its election manifesto to give 18% quota to Muslims. After nine months, it has done nothing.
How will the quota issue play out in UP?
It would have been dangerous if upper castes felt new reservation was being given to dalits. Upper castes in UP are very aware and intelligent, they know SC/STs have been getting quota in promotions since 1955. Why is the protest limited to UP? Upper castes live outside UP too? Because they know this quota is old and the bill is only to remove some obstacles put in its way. SP has used some retired employees, pumped in crores of rupees, locked the offices and told employees to agitate. The employees did not want to go on strike but were forced to.
You really think Congress was not sincere?
If Congress really wished well for dalits, the bill would have come six years ago. The Centre was party before the constitution bench of Supreme Court whose Nagaraj judgement neutralized the quota in promotions. If the Centre had put the correct facts before the court, I am confident the SC would have given a different order. Our agitation forced the government to pass the bill in the Rajya Sabha but it was kept hanging in the Lok Sabha...because they do not want it.
Then why are you supporting UPA?
We backed UPA to ensure that communal forces did not gain. The Congress keeps saying we want to do something for the weaker sections. Our people have been testing them for years. In 3.5 years, they have only got assurances. There is disappointment all around. We speak against the Centre in and outside Parliament. But after 3.5 years, why should we give them chance to tell people that if the BSP continued support for one more year, we would have done amazing things.
It is said BSP cannot face elections now and is forced to support UPA.
Over 20 lakh people came for our rally in Lucknow on October 9. We have never seen such crowds, especially when we are not in power. When people are so enthusiastic, why should BSP be scared? I want elections be held today than tomorrow.
Will the quota bill be passed in budget session?
Going by their attitude till now, I don't think the government is serious.
BSP had backed the Mandal report in 1980s, led agitation for OBC reservations. But now, the Mandal parties are opposing dalit quota?
Except Mulayam, nobody from the backward classes is opposing it. OBCs know that SC/STs are getting promotion quota since 1955. We led the agitation for Mandal report for months at the Boat Club. We fought for them. OBCs also know the reservation they got under Mandal report is not because of Mulayam, BJP or Congress, but because of Ambedkar. So, OBCs can never go against us. They are very intelligent.
So, only Yadavs are against it?
I don't think Yadavs are against it. Only SP is and people of Mulayam's mindset are. The educated among Yadavs are not against it. JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav is for it. Nitish Kumar has implemented it in Bihar. Lalu Prasad Yadav is also for it.
While BJP voted for the bill in Rajya Sabha, it is facing dissent now?
If the government had restored order in the Lok Sabha on December 20, we would have known where does BJP stand? How can I say BJP is against the bill when it voted for it in Rajya Sabha?
How do you assess SP regime's performance in UP?
There is no development in UP, there is corruption at every level, extortion for petty issues. Inquiries are ordered against decisions of my government to extort (from officials). Law and order is absent. Every kind of crime has shot up. Women are not safe. In nine months, there have been over 1.5 lakh rapes, over 100 riots and over 18 big riots. This has never happened since Independence, the situation is grim. People are terrorized, scared and sad. Barring mafia, all have started to remember and praise my government. People say it is not Uttar Pradesh but Crime Pradesh.
Congress again failed to dislodge Narendra Modi in Gujarat.
It appeared since the beginning that other parties were lax. If they had paid more attention, the result could have been different because BJP has not gained as much as it expected. There has been a dip. If other parties had focused more, its tally would have fallen more.
Sonia’s stand on dalit promotion quota bill is pure drama, Mayawati says
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Sonia’s stand on dalit promotion quota bill is pure drama, Mayawati says
