Mayawati: Got invite, yet to take decision on attending Ram temple inauguration event

“…Not just this, but when a similar programme will be held for the Babri mosque, then our party will not have any objection because our party does not discriminate on the basis of religion. We respect all religions,” she said.

She also hit out at the BJP governments at the Centre and states, saying they “have been hiding their failures” by doing politics in the garb of religion and culture.

Reiterating that the BSP will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls alone, Mayawati said: “With the backing of people from backward communities, Dalits, tribals, Muslims and other religious minorities, we had formed a full majority government in Uttar Pradesh in 2007, and that is why we have decided to contest the Lok Sabha polls alone.”

The BSP chief said that in an alliance her party “lost more and gained less”, while “the parties allying with BSP gain full”.

“This is the reason that most parties in the country want to ally with the BSP… Our party can also form a post-poll alliance for government formation in the state and Centre with the correct share in the government,” she added.

Amid reports that talks are being held within the Opposition INDIA bloc over BSP’s inclusion, Mayawati hit out at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, accusing him of trying to mislead people by “changing his stand like a chameleon”. She also claimed that “cheating” through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) led to BSP’s recent electoral losses.

She also clarified that she would continue to be active in politics. Last month, Mayawati had declared her nephew Akash Anand as her political successor.