UP elections: BJP harps on caste and development

LUCKNOW: BJP national president Nitin Gadkari and senior leader LK Advani played both caste and development cards at a rally in the city on Thursday.

Addressing a public meeting in Kapoorthala area, Gadkari announced BJP won't allow slashing of the OBC quota for minorities ' reservation. "In fact, no party can do that, even though all are fooling people," he said. Slamming the Mayawati government , Gadkari said that it lacked vision and development was the government's last priority. Gadkari also hit out at Congress, saying it was handin-glove with both BSP and SP.

Advani pointed to BJP-ruled states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat as model states, saying UP deserved the same. He flayed Congress, accusing it of fuelling corruption. Advani's accusations coincided with the unveiling of a book on 'Scams at a Glance' by BJP's Kirit Somaiyya, who claimed the scams were to the tune of about Rs 10 lakh crore.