BSP, BJP celebrated Ambedkar's anniversary for political benefit: Azam Khan

Rampur: Samajwadi Party leader and Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Azam Khan has accused BSP and BJP of celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar for political benefits.

Addressing mediapersons on Friday at Jauhar University, who he is lifetime chancellor of, Khan said the BJP's celebration of Babasaheb's birth anniversary was an "attempt to garner political mileage".

"Prior to this birth anniversary of the architect of the Constitution, why the BJP never preferred to pay respect to the dalit leader," he asked.

Political parties organised several programmes on April 14 to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar.

Khan also alleged Mayawati's BSP took advantage of the great leader and Congress also followed their tactics. "And now the BJP is taking the similar route because its decline has begun," he said.

"When a political outfit loses its credibility and people start calling it a symbol of falsehood and baseless promises, then it does what the BJP is doing now by exploiting the name of Ambedkar," he said.

Khan also criticised Mayawati for her advice to people to remain alert to the "theatrics" of RSS, asking her to clarify why she had shared power with the BJP in the past.