'Political honesty': Mayawati justifies praise for Yogi Adityanath amid Congress-SP criticism

BSP chief and former Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati. (File: PTI)

The criticism of the Samajwadi Party and Congress of her praise of the ruling BJP dispensation and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was "proof of their casteist mindset", Bahujan Samaj Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati said on Thursday.

Clarifying her stance amid criticism from other Opposition parties in the state, Mayawati said her praise for CM Adityanath and the state government was an example of "political honesty".

"Our opponents, including the SP and the Congress, did not like BSP's political honesty in expressing gratitude to the present UP government for accepting our demand on the maintenance of monuments and parks built by the BSP regime," she said addressing a meeting of party office-bearers from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand days after the party's rally in Lucknow marking the death anniversary of party founder Kanshi Ram on October 9.

Terming the Opposition's statements "proof of their casteist mindset and character", Mayawati said the current state government accepted the BSP's written demand to use revenue from ticket sales at BSP-era monuments in Lucknow for their upkeep — something ignored by the previous SP government, and that her gratitude for the same was a matter of integrity, not alignment.

Reiterating the BSP's independent stand, Mayawati said the party was "not capitalist in nature" and worked "for the welfare of crores of poor people from all sections of society."

Addressing the gathering, Mayawati said their opponents were spreading false rumours about the rally, including on the use of government buses. "The rally was organised entirely at our own expense. Supporters came using private buses and trains. Then how did the talks of government buses come into the picture? These are absurd and baseless claims — like a cat scratching the pillar out of frustration," she said, urging party members to stay alert against such "false allegations" in the future.

At the rally, Mayawati also appealed to her party workers to start preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections with full energy. She also reminded the gathering of the 1995 Guest House incident and asserted that there was still no remorse from those responsible.