Efforts on to destabilize UP: Mayawati

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has alleged efforts were underway to destabilise the state once again for political motives.

"The state, which has had a history of instability, is being sought to be destabilised again for political motives," she said.

She, however, said the people of UP are wise enough not to let such political machinations succeed.

Mayawati also dismissed the challenge posed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying the young leader was working only for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and said assembly elections in the state had always been a "big picnic" for the Gandhi family.

"Brother, sister, mother, and now even the brother-in-law, come for outing, sometimes with foreign friends," she claimed.

The UP Chief Minister also rejected the corruption charges levelled by Rahul Gandhi against BSP and claimed people have realised that it is actually the 'hand' - Congress' election symbol -which siphons off public money.

In an interview to Aljazeera English, the BSP chief claimed her 'social engineering' formula which had good results for BSP in the last elections was still at work.

"We have given Dalits a life of dignity and Brahmins who were exploited by Congress and BJP alike were given their due by BSP".

Asked why people should vote for her again, she claimed BSP would get votes as it has "fulfilled" the promises made in 2007.

"People voted for us in the hope that we will get rid of goondaraj. The criminals of Samajwadi Party had made life difficult for the people of this state. For the last five years, we have changed that...," she said.