Mayawati criticises ‘politics of provocation’, urges faith in constitutional means for justice
Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati has accused political parties of exploiting the grievances of deprived and marginalised communities for political gain, alleging that they incite protests and unrest to advance their interests.
At a press conference here on Friday, Mayawati referred to recent incidents in Meerut, Saharanpur, Prayagraj, Hardoi and other places, claiming that certain groups were attempting to provoke aggrieved sections of society into agitation rather than helping them secure justice through constitutional means.
She said some political parties and organisations encourage distressed and victimised people to take to the streets, leading to demonstrations, road blockades, violence and public disruption. According to her, these groups later visit the affected areas, express sympathy and seek political mileage from the incidents.
“Various political parties and organisations bring suffering and distressed people onto the streets by provoking and misleading them. They first create unrest through violence, protests, road blockades and other disturbances. Then their leaders arrive at the scene, shedding crocodile tears and using the incident for political gain. This does not help the victims receive justice,” she said.
Invoking the teachings of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Mayawati said he had shown Dalits, the deprived and other marginalised sections the path of securing constitutional rights and political empowerment through democratic means.
She stressed that Ambedkar advocated fighting injustice and oppression within the framework of the Constitution and the rule of law.
“If justice is not obtained from lower courts, people should seek remedies in higher courts rather than resorting to violence, confrontation or actions that disturb public life,” she said.
The BSP chief argued that attempts to incite people in the wake of incidents reported from Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country ultimately weaken the victims’ quest for justice while enabling political parties to take mileage over sensitive issues.
“The solution lies in following the peaceful and lawful path shown by Babasaheb Ambedkar — through unity and the strength of the vote to attain political power, which is regarded as the master key to resolving countless hardships,” she said.
She reiterated that political empowerment achieved through unity and democratic participation remains the most effective means of addressing social and economic challenges faced by marginalised communities. The BSP, she added, remains firmly committed to this objective and will continue working towards it without deviation.