Vote for BSP so I can give I-Day speech from Red Fort: Maya

Trying to position herself for a national role, Mayawati cautioned her party cadre against becoming a "saleable commodity". "You must ensure a big victory for the BSP in the next general elections so that I can deliver Independence Day speech as the prime minister from the Red Fort," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said addressing a state-level rally of party workers here.

Launching her party's campaign for the next general election, she promised, among many things, to take the issue of reservation in promotions, purposely stalled by a nexus of Congress and BJP, to its logical end. "Due to BSP's effort it (Bill on reservation) was passed in the Rajya Sabha, but the two parties sabotaged it from being taken up in the Lok Sabha. The SC ruled against it because the Congress didn't defend it hard," she said.

Trying to strike a chord with the non-Dalit backward classes, she claimed quota allotted to the OBCs was shrinking. "The Congress and BJP have policies meant to help the dhannaseths (rich people)," she added. She also decried the FDI policy and corruption during the UPA regime.

Listing her other priorities she promised to build memorials to three Dalit icons — Mahatma Phule, Shahu Maharaj and Babasaheb Ambedkar — on 100 acre each. "It is because of the BSP's push that the Indu Mill land could be had for Ambedkar memorial," she said. She alleged that atrocities were being committed on Dalits in Maharashtra on a daily basis. "It will stop only when the BSP comes to power," she added.

Mayawati cautioned her followers against media campaigns that malign her image. "The media plants such reports to deal a political blow to us. You shouldn't be taken in by such media campaigns, especially during elections. Your votes will also be sought to be purchased. You must resist all such attempts," she said.

Mayawati supported statehood for Vidarbha. "The BSP believes that Vidarbha must get statehood along with Telangana. When we come to power we will help farmers to ensure they don't commit suicides. Also, we will do proper management of the drought problem. We will attach priority to regional issues and problems," she said.

ALSO READ

CBI chief says report on coal block 'clean and clear'

Pak High Commissioner to visit Sanaullah today

Janampatri to genomepatri, the leap forward in predicting future

Despite fast-track courts, rape conviction rate still low