Mafia, encroachers to be behind bars once BSP comes to power: Mayawati

LUCKNOW: BSP supremo Mayawati today warned that "goonda, mafia and communal forces", backed by ruling SP in Uttar Pradesh, will be behind bars once her party comes to power in the state in the 2017 Assembly polls.

"Once the BSP comes to power in Uttar Pradesh in the 2017 Assembly elections, its special agenda will be to put all the goonda, mafia and communal forces getting patronage under the Samajwadi Party government behind bars which is their rightful place," she told a hurriedly called press conference here.

The former UP Chief Minister also said that all illegal encroachments will be cleared soon after her party comes to power in the state.

"All those encroaching upon government and private land will be evicted...strong action will be taken against those responsible as per law," she said.

Taking a dig at SP, Mayawati said, "Unlike the SP government, the BSP government will not confine itself to the development of a particular place or caste, but will work towards the development of the entire state. The weaker sections of the society will be given priority."

Reiterating her demand for a CBI probe into the Mathura incident where clashes between police and encroachers left 29 people dead last week, Mayawati said, "Statements from SP and BJP indicate that there is something fishy...if it was not so, the government should have immediately handed over the probe to CBI so that the real culprits were taken to task."

She blamed the "apathy" of SP and BJP governments in the state and Centre for the tragic incident.

"Both these governments continue to remain insensitive to the incident...they have no interest in ensuring justice...this is what the people feel," she said.

Reacting to Vikas Parv celebrations of BJP to mark the completion of two years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, the BSP supremo said "high-flying" visits by Union Ministers will not benefit the state.

"These visits are aimed at diverting attention from the failures in these two years...the people of UP will seek an answer from BJP in the Assembly polls as to what special have they given to the state which had sent 73 candidates of BJP and its allies, including the Prime Minister, to Parliament," she said.

Expressing apprehension that the Centre may misuse CBI and other agencies to prevent opposition leaders from higlighting its failures, Mayawati said BJP will have to face political loss in such an eventuality.