Mayawati calls BJP, Cong casteist and communal

Bhubaneswar: Launching her party's campaign in Odisha, BSP supremo Mayawati today labelled the BJP, Congress and BJD as 'casteist' and 'communal' parties.

Addressing an election rally at Baramunda grounds in the city, Mayawati lashed out at the national parties for their 'discriminatory' and 'casteist' attitude, which she termed as responsible for the 'plight' of backward and minority communities.

She had also targeted Naveen-led BJD government here for not effectively implementing the reservation policy meant for backward communities in jobs and education. "The State is saddled with huge backlog of vacancies in posts in reserved categories, both at entry level and in promotions," she alleged.

BSP supremo castigated the Modi-led Centre for doing 'chowkidaari' of affluent and rich. She called BJP and Congress as two sides of a coin. "Both the parties have a discriminatory mindset towards the minorities," she charged and added that atrocities against the oppressed sections have increased during the rule of Congress and BJP. "Atrocities against backward and minority communities have risen in Odisha under the BJD," she alleged.

Mayawati urged the backward and minority communities in Odisha to retain the balance of power with them, rather than remaining a seeker of alms from the parties in power for so many years.