Lucknow: BSP supremo Mayawati seems to have gone too far in her battle against the Congress, especially the Gandhis.
She has often accused Rahul Gandhi of playing Dalit politics, but now is a leaflet which is part of the BSP's awareness kit for partymen, puts the father of the nation in the same league.
Referring to the plans of UP Congressmen to celebrate Rahul Gandhi's birthday with Dalits, Mayawati says lip service to Dalits by the Congress is historical.
"On one hand our Opposition parties criticise and insult our Dalit icons and on the other hand, their leaders do the drama of staying, sleeping and eating in Dalit homes and talk of social equality. This has been an old habit of with parties like the Congress. Gandhiji too, during his lifetime, used to indulge in such dramatics. It was Gandhi who got many of the Dalit rights diluted," the leaflet said.
In the past too Mayawati has criticised Mahatma Gandhi for giving the name harijan to Dalits, calling it unconstitutional.
"Just being the daughter of a Dalit does not ensure anything for the cause of the Dalits," Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said.
So, on January 19, it will be Mayawati vs the Congress battling it out for the attention of the Dalits.