In a bid to woo the sizable population from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar living the capital, BJP today held a public meeting here which saw the party proclaiming that these people were a part of Delhi and had contributed to its growth and development.
In his address at the function, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley maintained that the people from Poorvanchal — eastern UP and parts of Bihar — were now an "inseparable" part of Delhi.
He hit out at the Congress, alleging that it plays divisive politics — in Delhi and elsewhere — to create a rift among people.
"In the Uttar Pradesh elections, the agenda was against corruption and for development and progress of the state. But the Congress has deflected attention from it by announcing 4.5% quota within quota for minorities. Our attempt always is to take everybody along. We will oppose this strongly," Jaitley said.
He alleged that the UPA government is engaged in a tussle with institutions of the state.
"This government is fighting with the general of the army. Now it is also attacking the scientists," Jaitley said, referring to the age row between the Defence Ministry and General VK Singh, and the ISRO Anrix-Devas issue in which former ISRO chief Madhavan Nair has been indicted.
The BJP leader said the government has been cornered on the issue of corruption.
Jaitley reached out to the people of Poorvanchal, saying if the party wins their support nothing will prevent it from coming to power in the forthcoming local bodies and other elections, including the Lok Sabha polls due in 2014.
