Addressing a press conference, AICC general secretary and UP in-charge Digvijay Singh said apprehensions of a threat to Mayawati’s life was the handiwork of a coterie of bureaucrats around her.

“These officials have terrorised Mayawati so as to prevent her from meeting the common people and getting first-hand information about the corrupt practices of the bureaucrats,” he said.

Taking strong exception of Mayawati’s allegation that the Congress was trying to eliminate her, Singh said she should give proof to support her allegation. “The Congress subscribes to the ideology of harmony and non-violence. If Mayawati feels so insecure, then the UPA Government at the Centre can provide more NSG commandos for her security,” he added.

The AICC general secretary said that Mayawati, by announcing that her political heir would be from her own sub-caste, had shattered the unity of Dalit community and this was also against the ideals of Dr B R Ambedkar and BSP founder Kanshi Ram.

Rebutting the charge that the Congress was against Mayawati becoming the Prime Minister, Singh said, “The Congress will have no objection if Mayawati becomes the Prime Minister, but a simple fact is that even if she wins all the 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP, her dream will not be fulfilled till the entire country supports her.”

Commenting on the Badalpur land row, he asked Mayawati to clarify how her father could purchase land in the area after a notification of land acquisition was issued. “The Congress will continue to agitate against the wrong-doings of the BSP Government at Badalpur even if the party leaders are arrested under the National Security Act (NSA),” he said.

The AICC leader said talks with the Samajwadi Party for a pre-poll alliance were underway. “The Congress always supports unity of the secular forces in the country and the SP has the distinction to prevent the BJP in the state,” he said.

Singh also said his party had no objection if the SP joined the Centre, but the decision has to be taken by the leadership of both the parties and the Prime Minister.

When asked about the possibility of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) joining their alliance, he said the doors were open for Ajit Singh, “but the RLD chief is a fickle-minded person that is why he is in trouble”.