BSP chief Mayawati today alleged that poor people, especially Dalits and Muslims of Uttar Pradesh, who have come here in search of jobs and live in slums are being treated "worse than animals".
Addressing a rally here, the former UP chief minister claimed that condition of the state worsened due to successive Congress and BJP governments in the state and people were forced to migrate to big cities like Mumbai.
"Before BSP came to power, Congress had ruled the state for many years, followed by BJP. Dalits and poor people were treated in a bad manner.
"When people did not get an opportunity to earn their livelihood and when they were made victims of atrocities, a large number of people migrated from UP to bigger cities, including your state of Maharashtra in search of employment," she said.
She alleged that people who came to Mumbai in search of employment have been treated in a bad way. "Not only is injustice being meted out to people migrating from Uttar Pradesh, but Dalits and poor people, including Muslims are unhappy.
"People living in Mumbai's slums are being treated worse than animals," she said.
Mayawati said if the BSP comes to power in Maharashtra, Mumbai's slum dwellers would get their own pucca houses.
She also attacked BJP leader Narendra Modi.
"BJP has chosen a candidate for the PM's post whose Gujarat government has been blamed for post Godhra riots in 2002. If such a person becomes the prime minister of this country even by mistake, then our country will witness communal riots anytime," Mayawati said.
She said that when her government was in power in Uttar Pradesh, she never let atrocities take place against any particular caste.
"Our government did not let any atrocities happen to people of any caste and people who committed any such crimes were put behind bars without delay," she said.
