Tamil Nadu Elections 2016: Do not be lured by freebies, Mayawati tells voters

Virtually attacking Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu offering freebies in their poll manifesto, BSP supremo Mayawati today asked voters not to be lured by such inducements, saying they "will not solve your problems." "Regional parties will lure you with freebies like cell phones. But they won't solve your problems," she said at an election rally here.

While the ruling AIADMK has promised cell phones free of cost and 100 units of power to all if voted to power, DMK has assured free 3G/4G connections. Seeking votes for her party candidates in the Assembly polls to be held here on May 16, Mayawati said that people require jobs and an end to poverty. "These regional parties give you freebies. Don't vote for them. You have to vote for the right party that will give you jobs and put an end to poverty," she said at a well-attended rally without naming any parties.

Such a 'right party' is her BSP, she claimed while referring to the various pro-people measures implemented by her party-led government in Uttar Pradesh in its four terms. She said her party has never released a manifesto as "we believe in doing and not saying." Despite 68 years since Independence, the economic condition of the weaker sections like Muslims, SC/STs and OBCs did not show any progress, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister alleged and slammed different central governments for "not doing anything for their upliftment".

She expressed concern over crimes against Dalits, especially women. "Not a day passes without crimes against Dalit women in the country," she said referring to the brutal rape and murder of a Dalit law student in Kerala.
Even in Tamil Nadu, the voice of the weaker sections is being "muzzled" and no action is being taken against perpetrators of crimes against Dalits across the country, Mayawati alleged. "Let alone getting justice, even an FIR cannot be registered," she claimed.

The BSP chief alleged that most parties came to power with the "help of big corporates" and therefore any economic policies are drafted keeping them in mind and not the common people. BJP and RSS are trying to put an end to reservation in education and job, by seeking 'review' of the same, she alleged. Mayawati specifically singled out the BJP-led Central government, alleging that while the party was involving the corporates, it is however non-committal in providing reservation in the private sector.