Mayawati Criticizes SP and Congress for Muslim Vote Bank Politics in Sambhal

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) National President Mayawati has targeted the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress, claiming that they exploit communal tension for political advantage in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal.

She said so while speaking at a Lucknow press conference on Saturday, stating that both parties are promoting factionalism within the Muslim community to gain political mileage.

Mayawati said SP and Congress are focusing on Muslim votes rather than other burning issues. "These two parties are pitting Turks and non-Turks in the Muslim community against each other in Sambhal. Muslims must remain cautious about these tactics," she said.

She also targeted Congress for its 'silence' on the plight of Hindus in neighboring Bangladesh, where many have fallen victim to crimes.

"The Congress has kept mum over atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh but is now vocally raising the issue of Sambhal solely to garner Muslim votes. This goes to prove that Congress and SP are two sides of the same coin," she said.
Mayawati expressed disappointment that Dalit MPs have been keeping mum on issues related to their community. She accused them of prioritizing party loyalty over the interests of Dalits, whether in India or Bangladesh.

She recalled historical injustices meted out to Dalits during the Partition of India. According to her, the Jessore-Khulna region in Bangladesh, which was a Hindu-majority area, was handed over to Pakistan during Partition as a deliberate move by the Congress. This, she said, was an act of casteist politics aimed at punishing Dalits for electing Dr B.R. Ambedkar to the Constituent Assembly.

Mayawati said that all these things have been made by the Congress and Dalits and weaker sections, who majorly are oppressed Hindus, are suffering. "This is due to these kinds of conspiracies that Dr Ambedkar resigned and left India. Today, the Congress is shouting about Sambhal, but in the context of Muslim votes, forgetting the rest.".

The violence in Sambhal broke out on November 24 when a team reached the Shahi Jama Masjid to survey the site which the Hindu side claims to be a Hari Har temple. At least four people were killed in the violence.