Mayawati Revives 1995 Guest House Incident to Criticize Congress and Samajwadi Party
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/26th August 2024
In a sharp political move, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati recently revisited the traumatic 1995 Lucknow guest house incident to condemn the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress for their roles during that time. Her remarks come shortly after she expressed gratitude to SP president Akhilesh Yadav for his support against objectionable comments made by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA during a televised debate. This recent outburst by Mayawati highlights the enduring political tensions and her dissatisfaction with both parties’ actions—or lack thereof—during the infamous incident.
The 1995 guest house incident remains a significant and dark chapter in Uttar Pradesh’s political history. On June 2, 1995, Mayawati announced that the BSP would withdraw its support from the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led SP government. In retaliation, SP leaders and workers allegedly attacked her at a guest house in Lucknow where she was holding a meeting with her party leaders. The situation quickly escalated into a life-threatening ordeal for Mayawati, who found herself trapped and under attack. It was BJP leaders who ultimately came to her rescue, an act that led to the dismissal of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s government by the governor and the invitation for Mayawati to form the new government.
Mayawati’s criticism extends beyond the SP to the Congress, which was in power at the Centre during the incident. She questioned why the Congress never addressed this brutal attack despite their position of power at the time. According to Mayawati, the Congress government at the Centre failed to fulfill its responsibility by not intervening promptly to protect her during the crisis. She also accused the Congress of harboring ulterior motives, alleging that they intended to impose President’s Rule in Uttar Pradesh after the incident, a plan she claims was thwarted by the BSP’s actions.
Mayawati further highlighted another instance of Congress’s alleged indifference, recalling how the party only acted to assist Kanshi Ram, her mentor and BSP founder, after he was hospitalized in a serious condition. It took significant pressure, including the opposition gheraoing Parliament and reprimanding the home minister, for the Congress to finally take action. This, she argues, exemplifies the Congress’s reluctance to genuinely support the BSP or its leaders when it mattered most.
Her remarks also touched on the broader issue of Congress’s commitment to the rights of marginalized communities, specifically the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Mayawati questioned the sincerity of Congress’s efforts in ensuring these communities’ rights, particularly in the context of a caste census, a sensitive issue that has seen various political parties take divergent stances.
Mayawati’s recent statements serve as a stark reminder of the longstanding animosities and the complex dynamics of Uttar Pradesh politics. Her recollection of the 1995 guest house incident not only criticizes her political opponents but also reinforces her narrative of betrayal and abandonment by those in power when she needed support the most. This political discourse is likely to continue shaping the relationships between the BSP, SP, Congress, and BJP as they navigate the intricate landscape of Indian politics.
