Mayawati flays BJP for felicitating riot accused MLAs

LUCKNOW: BSP supremo Mayawati today flayed BJP for felicitating its MLAs Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana, accused of instigating the Muzaffarnagar riots, in a rally in Agra and said SP-led government should not have given permission for the event as it could create tension in Uttar Pradesh.

"Despite objection by all the Opposition parties, senior leaders of BJP during yesterday's Agra rally felicitated the accused of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli riots and BSP strongly condemns it," Mayawati told newspersons here.

"This step of BJP can create tension in Uttar Pradesh...and if such a situation emerges BSP would hold SP equally responsible as it should not have given permission for holding such a rally...people should remain vigilant against the deeds of SP and BJP," she said.

When asked about the presence of controversial Muslim cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan during Samajwadi Party's Bareilly rally yesterday, Mayawati said she has always maintained that "there is no difference between SP and BJP".

Charging the SP government with issuing a discriminatory notification for rehabilitation of Muzaffarnagar riot victims, which was yesterday stayed by the Supreme Court, she alleged that it wants to instigate Hindu-Muslim riots and it is a joint "game plan" of BJP and SP.

Attacking the Akhilesh Government, she said, "When they have nothing to say on previous BSP government, its chief starts flaying memorials and museums set up by us, only to divert people's attention from the bad shape of law and order."

Mayawati reiterated her demand for imposition of President's rule in the state, saying the Governor should take stock of the situation keeping in mind the recent developments and communal tension.