BJP leader abuses Mayawati, expelled

The BJP drew condemnation from all around on Wednesday for its UP unit vice-president Dayashankar Singh’s derogatory remarks against BSP supremo Mayawati, forcing it to shift into damage-control mode and immediately sack Mr Singh from all party posts, followed by his expulsion from the party, a move seen as intended to placate the backward communities, in particular dalits. But the remarks caused an uproar in the Rajya Sabha. The incident is being seen as a major blow to the BJP ahead of crucial Assembly elections in the state and its attempts to woo dalits.

BSP general secretary Mewa Lal Gautam, meanwhile, lodged an FIR against the sacked state BJP vice-president at a Lucknow police station under IPC Sections 153 A, 504 and 509. The derogatory comments were made in Mau on Tuesday.

Parliament witnessed a massive uproar over the issue, with Ms Mayawati demanding the BJP leader’s immediate arrest. The BJP-led government was forced to condemn the leader and express regret. Union finance minister and Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said, “It is not right and I condemn the use of such words, and I will look into this matter. I express personal regrets. I associate our dignity with yours and stand with you.” However, Ms Mayawati demanded Mr Singh’s expulsion from the BJP and strong action against him. The Rajya Sabha, where a ruckus was already underway over the beating up of four dalits in Gujarat when this issue was raised, had to be finally adjourned for the day.

Ms Mayawati, who said she was “grateful” to Mr Jaitley and to the Opposition leaders for supporting her, also warned the government that she would not be responsible if the issue caused the people to hit the streets. “His remarks apply for his sister and daughter and not for me. The whole country will not forgive BJP... People will come on the streets (sic),” she said. On Wednesday, BSP workers burnt effigies of the BJP leader in Fatehpur.

The FIR against Mr Dayashankar Singh was lodged at Lucknow’s Hazratganj police station. “We have just received the complaint and the process of converting it into a formal FIR is on. Further action will be taken thereafter,” said a senior police official, adding that the FIR being registered in Lucknow would later be transferred to Mau for further investigation because the BJP leader had made the statement there. Mr Dayashankar Singh may be arrested later Wednesday night in view of the growing anger among BSP workers.

According to sources, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav also directed police officials to take immediate action and denounced the BJP leader’s statement. The BSP will hold a protest demonstration in Lucknow on Thursday and demand the immediate arrest of the BJP leader.

The issue was raised in the Rajya Sabha by Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad who said though his party had political differences with the BSP, it would not allow any such remarks to be made against a woman who is also a leader of a political party and has been a four-time chief minister.

The BSP, sources disclosed, will use the incident to attack the BJP on issues concerning dalits and try to project the BJP leader’s statement as an attack on dalit pride and dalit women.

BJP state unit chief Keshav Prasad Maurya also apologised for Mr Dayashankar Singh’s remark against Ms Mayawati, saying such language against a political opponent was very wrong. He later held a meeting with party leader in charge of the state Om Mathur.

The video clip of Mr Dayashankar Singh making the derogatory remarks against Ms Mayawati in Mau went viral. The remarks were made when he was with some party activist and was trying to highlight rampant corruption in the BSP regarding ticket allocations. “Mayawati does not have any standing in UP. She has shattered the dreams of Kanshi Ram. Look at the way Mayawati is selling tickets, even a prostitute keeps her commitment. But look at a leader like Mayawati who sells a ticket for Rs 1 crore, then, after some time, if another is willing to pay Rs 2 crore, she will give the ticket to him. Mayawati has become worse than a prostitute,” Mr Singh had said.

After his remarks ended up creating a major controversy and embarrassed his party, Mr Singh apologised, claiming it had been a “slip of the tongue” and that he respected Ms Mayawati.

In the Rajya Sabha, while raising the issue, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad said the use of such words by the BJP leader only reflected his mindset and a case should be registered against him under laws dealing with atrocities against SCs and STs. He demanded that the person be arrested. “Someone with such a mentality should have no place in any party or hold any office in any party,” he said.

Mr Jaitley, for his part, said he had been unaware of the incident till minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had apprised him a few minutes ago.

Responding with anguish, Ms Mayawati said, “I did not marry and considered the entire country’s oppressed as my family. I have always followed my mentor Kanshi Ram’s advice to take (donations) from the underprivileged and not industrialists.” She added that the BJP was perturbed by the huge support her party was drawing in Uttar Pradesh.

To the Opposition’s demand that the House pass a unanimous resolution condemning the remarks, deputy chairman P.J. Kurien said the entire House unanimously condemns the remark and asked the government to ensure that strictest action is taken against the person who made the statement. Leaders from various political parties also condemned the remarks.

The Congress’ Renuka Chowdhury said “mere lip service won’t do”, adding, “The person who has made the statement should be made an example of.” DMK member Kanimozhi said the kind of words used against Ms Mayawati was unacceptable. “It is a shameful act, and if this is said to a leader like Mayawati, then I wonder what is the state of common women,” Ms Kanimozhi said.

The Trinamul Congress’ Derek O’Brien, too, condemned the incident and said lady members from the Treasury benches should rise and condemn the remarks.