UP polls: BJP accuses Congress of creating communal divide

Lucknow, Jan 23 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday charged the ruling Congress Party of following an appeasement policy to woo voters in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.

BJP leader Kalraj Mishra described it as unfortunate that the Congress Party is inciting people on the basis of religion.

"It is unfortunate that from the starting, the Congress Party is following the strategy of appeasement, because in Uttar Pradesh the Congress is rapidly losing public support and that is the reason why Congress has always followed the policy of inciting people on the basis of religion," he told the reporters here.

Mishra said the Congress Party, Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are working hand in glove to divide the society.

"This government (Congress) is receiving full support from the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party and these three parties are trying to divide the society," he said.

Mishra further said that appeasing people on the basis of religion is unconstitutional and is a move towards creating a communal divide in the country.

"Diving the country on the basis of religion, following the strategy of appeasement and giving special privilege to people on the basis of religion and creating a divide in the country, announcing to provide special privilege to people on the basis of religion, these policies are a step towards the division of the society," said Mishra.

"This does not mean that we are not in favour of the Muslims. Bharatiya Janata Party has always said that justice is for all and special privilege for no one," he added.

Uttar Pradesh polls are being viewed as an opportunity for major parties to re-establish their foothold in the country's fifth largest and most populous state.

Polls in Uttar Pradesh are to be conducted in seven phases between February 8 and March 3. The counting of votes would take place on March 6.

Uttar Pradesh will elect a new 403-member state assembly in March, and the poll results are expected to broadly indicate trends for the 2014 general elections. (ANI)