Considering Dalits as 'aam aadmi' won't help AAP for long: Mayawati

LUCKNOW: BSP supremo Mayawati today took on the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for considering Dalits as "aam aadmi", and said it might help the party "gain political mileage for sometime, but not for long".

"By including Dalits who had suffered because of casteism for long as aam aadmi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has neglected them and it's an issue which needs to be considered," Mayawati said at her party's rally here.

"Parties such as AAP consider Dalits as aam aadmi... If Dalits were aam aadmi they would not have needed to form their own party," she said.

"Putting people of all sections of society among aam aadmi will not help... forcibly making Dalits aam aadmi or putting Ambedkar's portrait can help them gain political mileage for sometime, but not for long," the former UP Chief Minister said.

Taking a swipe at the Delhi Chief Minister over the chaos at "Janta Darbar", Mayawati said after chaos on the very first day Kejriwal had decided to enact the drama of solving the problems through phone. But the need is to rectify the government machinery, she stressed.

Referring to the works undertaken by the AAP-led Delhi government, she said it had given concessions to some people on power and water bills whereas she as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh had provided power to 20 crore people at a lower rate.