Mayawati says Maurya disloyal, selfish; triggers war of words

BSP supremo Mayawati today launched a sharp attack on Swami Prasad Maurya, who quit the party, saying he was "disloyal" and worked for "selfish interest", drawing a fresh salvo from Maurya as he accused her of "betraying" the mission of Dalit leaders B R Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram.
"He was disloyal to the party and to his own community. He worked for selfish interest and not for his community," Mayawati told reporters before a meeting of BSP Legislature Party where Dalit leader Gaya Charan Dinkar was elected as the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.
She said history will never forgive such a "disloyal and selfish" person.

"He never toiled for Maurya, Shakya, Kushwaha and Saini communities. All that he wanted was for himself and his close family," she charged, adding that though Maurya has quit BSP, the community members were "solidly behind" her party.
The BSP supremo ruled out the possibility of his re-entry into the party, saying history was replete with instances that those who left the party faded into political oblivion.
Maurya, who quit the party on June 22 accusing her of "auctioning" tickets for the 2017 Assembly election, charged her with "betraying" the mission of Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram and asked her to issue a "white paper" on how much money has been collected from BSP ticket seekers.

"Had she learnt how to speak, the situation in the party would have been different...It is she who has made a mockery of Baba Saheb (Ambedkar) and Kanshi Ram's ideology...She has betrayed Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram and murdered their ideology.

"If she is so upright, she should issue a white paper on how much money has been taken from ticket seekers or else I will do the same in the time to come," Maurya told a press meet.
Replying to Mayawati's barbs that he was sore as his demand for party ticket for family members was not met, Maurya said had he given enough funds he would not have been denied ticket from Padrauna.

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Asking Mayawati to exercise "restraint", Maurya said "If she disrespects me, she will have to face repercussions."
"She is so scared of me that she personally called and requested even expelled MLAs to come and be part of her meeting. This is my effect, she has had to do all this," he claimed.
Reacting to Mayawati revoking the suspension of some partymen, Maurya said he was happy that she has learnt to bend and be flexible.
He said Mayawati, who was in the habit of dismissing loyal workers, has been "taught a lesson" for the first time by him as he quit BSP before she could act against him.

On today's meeting, Maurya said it is matter of concern for Mayawati that despite all efforts by party office-bearers and coordinators, only 50 to 55 MLAs were present. BSP has 80 members in the Assembly.
He, however, claimed that some of his supporters attended the meeting but refused to spell out the number of MLAs who were in touch with him.
Refusing to open his cards on what course he will take in the future, he said he had gone to Delhi yesterday to attend a programme of a news channel and termed all reports of his meetings with leaders of other parties as "speculation".

Mayawati had earlier slammed him as "habitual party-hopper" and said his departure was a "good riddance" as in any case she would have shown him the door for seeking tickets for his son and daughter as BSP does not promote dynastic politics.