BJP raked up Kairana issue to divert attention from its defeat: Mayawati

Lucknow/New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday charged BJP with raking up the Kairana exodus issue to divert the attention of people from its defeat in Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council polls in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and made a fresh demand for imposition of President's rule in the state on law and order grounds.
Mayawati alleged that by raking up the issue of exodus of Hindu families from Kairana, BJP was "conspiring to foment communal passions", but its efforts were thwarted by the media.
"As a part of planned conspiracy, the Kairana issue was raised within a few hours of the biennial poll outcome and it was projected that Muslims were forcing Hindus to leave UP. This was a heinous conspiracy to fan communal passions," she told a press conference.
"There has been exodus from 50 districts (of Uttar Pradesh) due to drought for which the Centre is responsible," she claimed.
The BSP chief hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for slamming her party and alleged that BJP was hand in glove with ruling Samajwadi Party over the issue of corruption. She said Modi had, at a rally in Allahabad, on Monday spoken about "jugalbandi" (duet) between SP and BSP over corruption which was "completely wrong". "Inquiries into police recruitment scam and CM's discretionary fund were carried out by my government. Despite this, whatever Modi said on the issue of graft was an attempt to cover up the nexus between SP and BJP," she said.
Making a fresh demand for imposition of President's rule in UP, the BSP supremo said crime is at its "peak" in the state under the SP rule and alleged that BJP and Congress are equally responsible for it. She also accused BJP of indulging in horse-trading in the just concluded Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council polls in UP.
Meanwhile,the Centre has sought a detailed report from government of Uttar Pradesh on the alleged migration of Hindus from Kairana village in the state. In a communication, the Home Ministry asked the state government to verify the allegations and send a detailed report to it as early as possible. Official sources said the communication has been sent three days ago but no reply has been received. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had on Monday said it was unfortunate if people were being forced to leave their homes in their own country. "If people have to leave their homes in their own country, then the state government should take the responsibility. If the state government seeks any help, we will definitely give them," he had said. There have been allegations that Hindus from Kairana village in Shamli district in western Uttar Pradesh were forced to leave their homes by people from another community.
However, UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had accused BJP leaders of being "dishonest" and "lying" on the issue. Yadav claimed that most of the people had left the village about 10 to 15 years back while others left in search of jobs about seven or eight years ago.