Cong offered to withdraw Taj, DA cases for support: Maya

LUCKNOW: UP chief minister Mayawati said on Saturday that the Congress had offered her a deal just before the 2004 Lok Sabha elections to ensure that no injustice would be done to her if the BSP agreed for a post-poll coalition. While Mayawati did not specify the deals, it may be recalled that she was under pressure over the Taj corridor and disproportionate assets cases.

Both the cases are still in courts. While the Taj corridor case was referred back to the Allahabad High Court by the Supreme Court, the disproportionate assets case is pending with the SC. Mayawati has been generally accusing Congress of conspiring against her for long but on Saturday, while addressing party functionaries , she came out with this charge of quid pro quo. She said even BJP had offered her to join its coalition by giving 20 seats in UP before 2004 polls but she refused.

‘‘ It was because of BSP’s decision to go it alone in the elections that Congress failed to get a majority in the Lok Sabha elections of 2004 and 2009,’’ she said. ‘‘ Also,’’ she added, ‘‘ BSP won 2007 assembly polls because it decided to contest alone.’’
Maya has earlier said that the UPA government can even get her arrested through CBI. On Saturday, she reiterated her fear and said she is fighting against the conspiracy in the court of law. ‘‘ If I fail, I am confident of emerging victorious in people’s court,’’ she said. ‘‘ Congress party’s yuvraj (Rahul) has been indulging in theatrics by travelling in train and visiting Dalit households but he will not be able mislead the people," she said. TNN