BSP declares support to government in Lok Sabha on cut motion

Bolstering the government ahead of voting on opposition-sponsored cut motion in Lok Sabha, BSP, with 21 MPs, today came out openly in support of the ruling UPA.

"We are supporting the government since the day one to keep the communal forces at bay. At the time of the formation of the UPA government, we gave unconditional outside support and that is there," party supremo and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati told a press conference in Lucknow.

"This is not a new situation. We will support the government on cut motion. In the name of cut motion, communal forces are trying to come back to power at the Centre," she said.

Mayawati also said normally her party should have supported the cut motion because of the issues on which it was being brought.

CBI cases were there against her which, she said, they would fight legally. "But our support to the government has nothing to do with the cases," she said.

With BSP's support, the UPA's strength in the 543-member House appears clearly more than the half-way mark. Mayawati said, "Though we should have voted against the government keeping in mind the issues of price rise and inflation, the party does not want communal forces to have an upperhand."

She said that the party MPs have been apprised of the decision.

When asked whether the BSP's decision was influenced by CBI cases against her, she said that the issue of supporting the UPA had nothing to do with it.

"I would like to say that the cases relating to Taj corridor and on assets were lodged during the NDA regime and the UPA was not in the power at that time," she said.

Mayawati, however, said that her party's agitation against wrong economic policies of the UPA Government and rise in prices of essential commodities would continue. She said her party will also protest the attitude of the government on development in UP.