New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday lashed out at Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati for playing the Dalit card post the Enforcement Directorate’s disclosure and labelled her as the ‘goddess of corruption’.
BJP MP Udit Raj countered Mayawati’s allegations against the ruling party at the Centre and said it clearly revealed her frustration.
“If they are clean then they must let the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department do their work. The law is taking its own course. Whether it is the BJP, AAP or BSP, if the investigating agencies find any irregularity then they will investigate. So, why is Mayawati getting frustrated? Is there anything which is bothering her?” Raj told ANI.
“This is Mayawati’s old tactic, there is no link between her being dalit and ED investigation,” he added.
Echoing similar sentiments, BJP MLA Swami Prasad Maurya said that it was extremely unfortunate and shameful if Mayawati calls her black money gathered from the poor and Dalits as white.
“Baba Saheb formed the BSP for betterment and protection of Dalits, but Mayawati has ruined his dreams,” Maurya added.
Maurya also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation drive.
“The Prime Minister fulfilled the mission of Baba Saheb with the demonetisation move. It is Prime Minister Modi, who took strong action against black money and corruption,” Maurya added.
Defending allegations that around Rs. 104 crore was deposited in an account belonging to the BSP post demonetisation, Mayawati earlier in the day alleged that the BJP-led Centre was misusing its official machinery and trying to malign her party’s image.
“Eying the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the frustrated Centre is trying to harass the people. The BJP is misusing the state machinery to malign the name of the BSP,” Mayawati said.
Mayawati stated that all BSP bank accounts are legal, adding deposits are the money collected as party funds honestly sans any wrongdoing.
“My brother, who earns a living by doing a small business, also deposited money in bank accounts as per IT norms. The funds were collected before the demonetisation move. Other parties also deposited money…but they have not been questioned. The BSP follows the rules of the Income Tax and the Election Commission,” she added.
Asserting that she is herself a lawyer, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said she knows the law of the land and accused the BJP of having an anti-Dalit mindset.
“I am being targeted because I am a Dalit. The BJP has an anti-Dalit mindset. The BJP wants to harass 90 percent of the nation’s population. It does not want to end the dynasty of capitalism,” she added.
Escalating her attack, Mayawati said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have some amount of honesty left then they should provide details of their bank details before November 8.
“I have got to know it through sources that some BSP strongmen are being threatened and trapped. The BJP wants to politically harass the BSP. The Taj corridor matter is a scam that took place during the BJP government’s rule at the Centre,” she added.
Sounding optimism, Mayawati said the BSP will form the next government in the state like it did in 2007.
“The BJP is resorting to low tactics against BSP. The BJP is tense after my yesterday’s press conference. It has harassed the nation with its demonetisation move. It has not done anything even after 100 people died post the drive,” she added.
The BSP boss further said the BJP is completely shaken after she exposed the party for making desperate attempts to ensure that the Samajwadi Party and Congress enter into an alliance for next year’s polls.
The Enforcement Directorate also detected Rs 1.43 crore in an account belonging to Mayawati’s brother Anand Kumar.