Lucknow: The rivalry that has been simmering between Samajwadi chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati for the past two decades has been stoked again by the SP chief, and angry sparks are flying in the BSP camp. Ms Mayawati has accused Mr Yadav of having “insulted her as a woman” and demanded that he should be sent to a mental asylum.
The BSP has written to the Election Commission, asking it to ban Mr Yadav from addressing rallies and to initiate action against him. It accused Mr Yadav of creating social and communal disharmony with his speeches and intimidating various sections of society. Sources said BSP supporters are planning to hold protests wherever the SP chief holds a rally. A senior police official said on Thursday that the security of SP leaders has been beefed up.
It may be recalled that Mr Yadav on Wednesday referred to a remark allegedly made by late Kanshi Ram on the disputed site at Ayodhya, and then went on to make some derogatory references to Ms Mayawati. Questioning her marital status, Mr Yadav had said at a rally: “Main use kya kahun samajh mein nahin aata... kunwari kahun, shrimati kahun, ya behen kahun (I don’t know if I should call her (Ms Mayawati) a spinster, a married woman or just sister).”
Ms Mayawati said that her party members were very angry at the SP chief for denigrating her, and wanted to take to the streets. “I have advised them not to take to the streets and not take the law in their own hands,” she said.
