Lucknow: BSP chief Mayawati on Friday questioned the silence of Samajwadi Party (SP) leadership over the alleged objectionable remarks made by an SP spokesperson targeting Brahmins. She asserted that the SP leadership's silence is causing the controversy to escalate, making the matter increasingly serious.
Mayawati Demands Apology
In a post on X in Hindi, Mayawati refrained from naming either SP chief Akhilesh Yadav or the spokesperson, Rajkumar Bhati, who allegedly made the remarks. However, she demanded an apology from Akhilesh to the Brahmin community. She stated, "It will probably be appropriate if the SP chief takes the insult caused to the respect and honour of the Brahmin community by the irresponsible statement of his party spokesperson seriously, and immediately apologises to Brahmins."
SP's Casteist Character
Mayawati noted that the incident has made it evident that SP is against Brahmins, just as it is against Dalits, backwards, and Muslims. She emphasized that the party's casteist character has not changed but has become even stronger over time.
Calling the uproar over the SP spokesperson’s remarks and its widespread condemnation as genuine, the BSP chief said that the tension surrounding the issue is not subsiding even after the registration of an FIR. She also criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for the "anger among Brahmins" given its attitude towards the community.
Appeal to Brahmins
Mayawati reminded Brahmins of the safety and security they enjoyed during the BSP governments in the state. She asserted that Brahmins were not "used and thrown" when her government was in office, adding that "it is well known to all." This outreach is part of her strategy of social engineering for the 2027 assembly elections, which involves drawing support from all castes and communities. This approach had previously helped BSP form a government with a thumping majority in Uttar Pradesh in 2007.
