Mayawati accuses BJP, SP of being ‘hand in glove’ in fanning violence in UP

New Delhi: BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday accused BJP and SP of being "hand in glove" in fanning communal violence in Uttar Pradesh to further their political interests and said communal forces were becoming strong across the country.

She said while the situation in UP was "bad" under the rule of the Samajwadi Party, things have "worsened" after the BJP-led NDA took power at the Centre.

"We see that communal forces are gaining strength in the country. Several states have witnessed communal riots. Uttar Pradesh holds the number one spot. Samajwadi Party and BJP are hand in glove behind the communal violence in Uttar Pradesh.

Peace had ended in the state the day SP came to power. But the moment BJP came to power at the Centre, the situation has worsened there," she told reporters

The BSP chief alleged that both SP and BJP were deliberately creating communal tension in UP for political gains.

She said that state governments as well as the Centre should take effective steps to check spread of communal tension in the country.

Responding to a question on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden Independence Day speech, she said it sounded more like an "election speech" aimed at the four states going to assembly polls.

"The Prime Minister said he is the pradhan sewak. He did not sound like a pradhan sewak. But it sounded like an election speech aimed at Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana," she said.

The former UP Chief Minister said though BJP has recently come to power, she has seen little being done usher in "aache din".

Responding to a report submitted to the Samajwadi Party by senior UP minister Shivpal Singh Yadav on Saharanpur riots, she said the "actual facts" are buried and the report has little meaning.

"BJP and SP are hand in glove. The report has not put forth the actual facts. It has little meaning. We do not accept the report," she said.

To a question on senior UP minister Mohd Azam Khan attacking is own government on law and order, she said it has no meaning as situation in UP has been bad from the day SP government took over.

"He is only attacking is government now. Perhaps he is being ignored by his party. This is perhaps the reason," she said.