New Delhi, Dec 6 (ANI): Eyeing upon the forthcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday extended its solidarity with the lower caste community, while criticising Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Government and the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre for fuelling underdevelopment, poverty and unemployment.
Highlighting the plight of the lower castes, BJP President Nitin Gadkari vehemently criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for failing to realise the long-cherished dream of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, a prominent lower caste icon.
"Social and economic development cannot take place if the same political leaders are elected time and again. Mayawati's government came into power in Uttar Pradesh. She raised statues of Baba Saheb Ambedkar across the state. However, the emancipation and development of lower castes has not happened even after the construction of the statues," said Gadkari in his address at a political rally here.
"Even today, people are stuck in the same state of affairs as they have been for years. There is massive unemployment. People are struggling with price rise, poverty and starvation. The reason for price rise, poverty and starvation are the skewed economic policies of the government and a corrupt administration," he added.
Gadkari blamed the severe deprivation among the lower and backward classes of Uttar Pradesh on vote-bank politics played by rival factions and politicians.
"Today, has the economic condition of our brothers from scheduled castes and scheduled tribes changed in any way? Has our long-cherished dream of social justice for them come true? Can we express satisfaction at their educational progress?" said Gadkari.
"I feel that in 63 years of independence, the dream that Baba Saheb Ambedkar had envisioned is yet to be fulfilled. The main reason for this is that the plight of lower castes has been turned into vote-bank politics and thoroughly exploited by leaders and politicians," he added.
Further stepping up pressure on the Centre, Gadkari accused it of framing anti-poor policies resulting in an increase in unemployment, farmer suicides and wastage of food grains.
"The poor are turning poorer. Farmers are committing suicide. The youth is unemployed. The poor in this country is dying of hunger. On one hand, the poor does not have food to eat, and on the other, food grains worth 58,000 crore have been damaged due to a lack of storage. Fruits and vegetables worth Rs. 1.10 lakh crore have been destroyed. The poor is dying due to starvation," he said.
The Uttar Pradesh polls scheduled in the early part of 2012 is seen as an opportunity for regional as well as national parties to establish a firm political base in the country's fifth largest state before the 2014 general elections. (ANI)
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