Lucknow: In a striking political statement that sent ripples across Uttar Pradesh, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for maintaining Dalit memorials while sharply criticising the Samajwadi Party (SP) for what she called its “double-faced politics.”
Speaking at a massive gathering in Lucknow on the 19th death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, Mayawati appreciated the Yogi government’s assurance that revenue from ticketed Dalit parks and memorials would be used strictly for their upkeep. “I wrote a letter to the chief minister requesting that the ticket money collected from visitors be used for upkeep. The BJP government assured us that this money would not be diverted elsewhere and they kept their word. For this, our party is thankful to them,” she said.
Her unexpected praise for the ruling BJP created a political stir, prompting a swift response from the SP.
Without directly naming SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati accused the party of neglecting Dalit memorials and betraying the legacy of social justice. “The SP government did not spend a single rupee on maintenance. They even kept the ticket revenue. But now, when they are out of power, they talk of organising seminars in Kanshi Ram ji’s honour,” she said.
She also condemned the SP for renaming Kanshiram Nagar district back to Kasganj. “If they truly respected Kanshi Ram ji, they would not have changed the name of the district. We had named universities and institutions after him and other great leaders, but the SP government shut them down. If this is not double character, then what is it?” Mayawati remarked.
Highlighting what she described as opportunism, the BSP supremo accused the SP of invoking Dalit icons and the PDA (Pichde, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) slogan only when out of power. “When they rule, they forget our saints, gurus, and great men. But once they lose, they start using their names for politics. People should beware of such double-faced parties,” she added.
Reacting to Mayawati’s statements, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav fired back, suggesting that the BSP’s gratitude to the BJP reflects covert collaboration. “Because their internal collusion continues, that is why they are grateful to their oppressors,” Yadav said, without naming her directly.
