Provide houses to migrants from North, Maya tells State govt

STAFF REPORTER Mumbai

In a vociferous demand that has the potential to anger several political parties in the State like the Shiv Sena and Raj Thackerays MNS, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minster Mayawati has asked the Maharashtra government to provide houses to migrants living in slums, including those from north India, in the city. Hitting out at the CongressDalit leadership, she took a dig at Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde here on Sunday. CongressDalit leaders like Sushil Kumar Shinde are sitting in powerful positions but not working for the community. They are loyal only to their leadership and not the people and spend most of their time in servility of the Congress leadership, she said.

They conveniently forget the values of Ambedkar once they are in power, she added.

The embattled UP Chief Minister also took a swipe at Congress youth icon Rahul Gandhi without naming him. Mayawati said that by giving political colour to even the smallest of incidents, the Congress- led UPA government was attempting to destabilize the UP government.

Even some of the people in the media, with a biased mindset, were painting a distorted picture, she added. But let me make it clear, that I am not going to get cowed down by such things. Because, unlike leaders of other parties, I have not come into politics through any dynasty. I have come this far by working for the party at the grassroots level, she said without naming Rahul or Sonia Gandhi. At no cost will I kneel down before the Opposition. She added.

PROVIDE HOUSES TO NORTH INDIAN MIGRANTS: In a demand that is bound to raise the hackles of parties like Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray- led MNS, the UP Chief Minster also asked the Maharashtra government to provide houses to migrants living in slums, including those from north India, in the city. The BSP leader was addressing a party meeting at suburban Goregaon on Sunday.

A large number of people from all over the country, specially those from north India, have come to Mumbai to earn a living, settled here and built huts. You say Mumbai has been defaced due to these slums. I wish to tell the State government here to provide them jobs before relocating them out of Mumbai, she said.

I wish to convey to the State government that these slum- dwellers should be provided employment instead of evicting them from Mumbai. And if you dont have resources to provide them livelihood, then I will advise the government to build high- rises and provide them two- room houses in those buildings, in the same area so that their employment avenues are protected, Mayawati said.

TIRADE AGAINST OPPN PARTIES: Playing the Dalit card yet again on day two of her Mumbai visit, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that Opposition parties, as a part of a political conspiracy, branded the BSP as being opposed to the upper castes though it is not the case. Opposition has tried all dirty tricks in the book, and under a well though- out political conspiracy, they have spread the propaganda that our party and its ideology are opposed to the upper castes, she said. She also recounted the attack on her and her party workers at a Lucknow guest house when BSP was poised to form the government for the first time in UP. Alleging that Samajwadi Party had engineered the attack, she said, But I was saved due to the blessings of crores of poor people. Similarly, in 2003, the then BJPled government, with a malicious intent, had ordered a CBI probe into her socalled disproportionate wealth, she recalled.