Bundelkhand the core of fray between BSP and Congress

Bundelkhand sure was an issue but all of a sudden the high pitch drama is quite understandable which has surfaced BSP supremo Mayawati’s political insecurity after Rahul Gandhi traced the region taking up the grievances of people and staged a dharna in Jhansi few days back.

The same is very much evident from the way Mayawati tackled the whole issue, allegedly she has transferred the commissioner of Jhansi; earlier Rahul had gone to the commissioner's office and handed him a memo relating to irregularities in the rural employment guarantee scheme and various other problems.

But the vociferous Mayawati termed it as political drama and accused Gandhi of being hypocrite. She reacted and sent the last warning to withdraw its support from the government if it fails to release the amount and check the price rise in the region.

Again on Tuesday, the BSP gave UPA government a jolt by asking immediate grant of Rs 80,000 crore for Uttar Pradesh which led to adjournment of both the houses for a brief period.

The BSP members shouted in Lok Sabha demanding the release of funds in two drought stricken areas of Bundelkhand and Poorvanchal. The party members along with BSP supremo have earlier threatened the UPA government of withdrawing support if there demand is not met. They also pitched for lowering price of essential commodities.

Soon after the new members took oath the BSP member demanded suspension of Question hour to discuss the matter of two badly affected region of Uttar Pradesh. Later the newly elected BSP leader Akbar Ahmad Dumpy and Kushal Tiwari joined the protest.

But the Speaker, refused to suspend the Question Hour saying the matter could be taken in the Zero Hour. However, he adjourned the house proceeding after the BSP leaders refused to budge. Similarly in Rajya Sabha too the similar protest led to the adjournment of the house for a brief period.

Another Congress-BSP brawl came to forefront when BSP supremo demanded inclusion of certain OBCs in the Scheduled Caste list which was strongly contended by Union Social Justice Ministry as indefensible. It also pointed that how BSP has taken U turn on the same matter which she has earlier opposed.

Reportedly, when Mulayam was in power he made amendments in the state law and entitled those OBCs all the benefits given to SCs. But Mayawati after coming to power sought a letter to centre and withdrew the demand.

To add more fuel social justice ministry has asked BSP government to reply on the same that what led her to retract the earlier demand and at what circumstances.

As claimed by Congress which has highlighted the backward region of Uttar Pradesh has left Mayawati fuming

The obtuse reaction of Mayawati has sketched her in poor light, the high sounding words like ‘Social Engineering’ too seems to loss its significance which gave her thrust and drive to power.

The growing turf between the two parties seems to have taken an ugly turn with usual dose of allegation and counter allegation.

AICC spokesperson, Abhisekh Singhvi said, “It has certainly been the Congress and the visits by Rahul Gandhi that have brought it on the map. So certainly, nobody can be more concerned than us.”

He noted that centre has allocated UP enormous fund and reacted “there should be a constructive, positive approach to the issues of the people of Bundelkhand.”

Maintaining that if some constructive suggestion comes there is ample scope to improve on it, Singhvi emphasised on Backward Area Development Fund which is meant only for such regions like Bundelkhand.

Sure bargaining democracy has become a way of functioning of our government where special interest has to be satisfied.

Away from the politics the family which shared meal with Rahul said that they want both Congress and BSP; Congress for its contribution in the past to make them acquire land and rights while the BSP to guide smooth implementation of various programmes.

Both the parties should resist themselves by making it a political issue than to reach for solution and divert fund for the development of the area.

Raising issue of public interest is the responsible duty of any political party. But parties should resist itself from making mockery of the situation by hoisting such issues to mere gain political gimmicks rather than resolving the plight of the people concerned.