http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=81273
Monday, February 12, 2007 Mulayam woos Dalits, backwards Press Trust of India Lucknow, February 12: Giving a clarion call to the Dalits and backwards, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav asked them to unite and 'thwart the designs' of the Congress, BJP and BSP to dislodge his government in the coming assembly elections. "The Congress, BJP and BSP have joined hands and are asking their partymen to dislodge my government. You should get your photo I cards prepared to give them a befitting reply in the coming polls," he told a Dalit-backward classes rally here. He said the rally of Vishwakarma, Prajapati, Chowrasia, Nai and Bhurji castes was an effort to unite Dalits and weaker sections of society and urged SP workers to fan out in all the districts and villages to muster support for the party. "You should know what the SP government has done for you and propagate its policies so that other parties do not gain political mileage from it," he told them. Making an oblique reference to former Prime Minister and Jan Morcha patron V P Singh, Yadav said those who change their garb in keeping with the occasion could never work in the interest of the poor and backward people. SP general secretary Amar Singh accused former Prime Minisster A B Vajpayee and Congress President Sonia Gandhi of joining hands against Yadav and "singing the same tune...". He made a dig at Amethi Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, alleging he did not know about castes like Prajapati, Nai and Vishwakarma, but was "projected as the future Prime Minister". He also accused BSP leader Mayawati of using Dalits and backwards for personal and political gains.
