VHP yatra row: Mayawati says connivance between BJP, SP

NEW DELHI: BSPsupremo Mayawati on Thursday alleged connivance between BJP and SP over VHP's proposed yatra from Ayodhya, saying the parties wanted to create communal tension in Uttar Pradesh.

"I think the controversy about the VHP yatra is with an understanding between both the parties...BJP and SP are behind the controversy over the yatra and both these parties want to create communal tension. They want violence between" two communities, Mayawati told reporters outside Parliament.

She said both the parties were on a weak footing in the state.

"The Samajwadi Party government has badly failed on the law and order front. People of the state are very much against the government because of the deteriorating law and order situation.

"On the other hand, BJP's position is also not good in the state and both the parties are aware of it. Lok Sabha elections are round the corner, so in this situation if Lok Sabha elections are held, the results will not be good for SP and BJP," she said.

Condemning the "political game plan" behind the controversy over VHP's yatra, she appealed both communities to be aware of the "sinister design of SP and BJP".

The former UP chief minister also demanded imposition of President's Rule in the state saying even "policemen are not safe in the state."

Referring to the attack on a DSP and a constable by liquor mafia near Ghaziabad recently, Mayawati said, "When policemen are not safe in UP, how can the common man in the state be safe?"

"People are suffering because of deteriorating law and order situation. When police tries to act against criminals, they are attacked," she said.

"That is why, I appeal to the UP Governor to take all these incidents seriously into consideration and recommend President's Rule in the state," she said.