BJP booklet on Maya ‘misgovernance’ brings her publicity

The booklets,grumble BJP workers,have ended up bringing more publicity to Mayawati and while some of them have sent back the copies,others have distributed these only after removing the cover page.

Titled Uttar Pradesh ki BSP sarkaar ke viruddh jannyayalay mein chargesheet,the 32-page booklet has been printed in Lucknow and is one of the biggest projects undertaken by the party’s state unit.

The party’s state office had printed around 20 lakh copies to be distributed is every village across the state.

Costing around Rs 4 each,the “chargesheet” has a colourful cover,showing a caricature of chief minister Mayawati wearing a crown and riding on a blue elephant. The elephant is seen trampling common people,indicating that state government’s policies are crushing the poor.

The booklet has charges framed under 10 heads: insult to constitutional bodies,use of mafia for crime and intimidation,protection of the mafia elements,siphoning of state funds,extortion from the common man,framing innocents in fake cases,violation of human rights by police,blackmarketing of essential commodities,exploitation of farmers,kidnapping and exploitation of businessmen.

In January,the copies were sent to all district units. The workers were told to distribute them among the rural folk at meetings on price rise and inflation. But within a month,the district unit workers began complaining to the state unit about the cover page.

A district coordinator from Sitapur said: “The booklet brings forth information about the atrocities of the state government. But the cover page is a major drawback,as on the first view,it looks like a booklet for Mayawati rather than against her.”

Another worker from Azamgarh said he was shocked to hear the villagers call it “Behanji ki kitaab”. “When we told them that this booklet is by the BJP against the poor governance of the Chief Minister,they could hardly believe it,” he said. “We had to show them the back cover,where the photograph of state president Ramapati Ram Tripathi and the party symbol have been placed.” The man literally behind the booklet sets aside these arguments,saying it is perfect to highlight the increasing corruption and criminalisation in the state.

The chargesheet,” said BJP state president Ramapati Ram Tripathi,“has been framed after much research and the cover is a perfect idea”.Regarding the confusion among people,he said: “We finalised the cover ourselves as it is a wonderful caricature showing Mayawati and her elephant crushing people. The material will remove any confusion and people should read the chargesheet.”