LUCKNOW, Dec 15: BSP leader Mayawati criticized the Congress and Samajwadi Party on Sunday, claiming that they should not address issues related to reservations due to their previous opposition to the legislation that aimed to provide quotas in promotions for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) during the Congress-led UPA regime.
While addressing a press conference, she expressed her support for the Centre’s proposal of ‘one nation, one election,’ arguing that it would help reduce costs and ensure that public welfare initiatives are uninterrupted. She called for other political parties to back this proposal as well.
Mayawati emphasized the necessity of including reservations for SC, ST, and Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution to safeguard it from future alterations. Laws included in the Ninth Schedule are protected from judicial scrutiny.
She noted the ongoing debates in the Lok Sabha, pointing out that both the ruling party and the opposition, particularly the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, have made numerous “groundless” assertions regarding the reservation issue aimed at gaining the support of Dalit and OBC voters, stating there is “not even an iota of truth” in their claims.
“It would have been preferable if these two parties (Congress, SP) had refrained from commenting on this matter in Parliament, as during the Congress-led government, with the support of this party, the SP vehemently opposed the Constitutional Amendment Bill related to promotions for SC and ST communities,” she remarked.
“SP even tore the bill and discarded it during a Parliamentary session, and it remains pending to this day,” she lamented.
Mayawati also criticized the ruling BJP, stating, “The BJP’s anti-reservation stance is evident, and they seem disinclined to pass the bill.”
She commented on the recent discussions in Parliament regarding the ‘glorious journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India,’ asserting, “Its effectiveness can only be realized if the ruling class acknowledges whether they have succeeded in providing employment, justice, and a life of dignity to countless citizens, as intended by our humanitarian and welfare-oriented Constitution.”
The former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh declared that it is not the Constitution that has failed, but rather the individuals and parties in power have failed to uphold its principles due to their “narrow-minded and caste-driven politics.”
Mayawati pointed out that the current government’s “resolutions” will not serve the interests of the populace.
She indicated that if the government attempts to amend the Constitution for the benefit of a particular party, individual, or institution, “our party will oppose it vehemently.”
As the party representing the underprivileged and marginalized, the BSP welcomes the BJP’s proposals concerning ‘one nation, one election.’
She urged all parties to transcend partisan interests and collaborate for the benefit of the nation and its citizens.
Despite its historical significance, the BSP has experienced a decline in electoral success in recent years and currently holds only one seat in the Rajya Sabha. (PTI)
