"We are grateful to present-BJP govt": Mayawati thanks BJP govt, slams Samajwadi Party over Kanshi Ram Memorial funds

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 9 (ANI): Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday took a dig at the Samajwadi Party while expressing gratitude towards the current BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh for maintaining transparency in the management of funds collected from the Kanshi Ram Memorial.
Speaking at the memorial on the death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, Mayawati praised the BJP government for not "suppressing" the revenue generated from visitors.
"We are grateful to the present government because unlike the Samajwadi Party government, the money collected from the people visiting this place has not been suppressed by the present BJP government," Mayawati said.
Mayawati further explained that during the BSP's tenure, entry tickets to the memorial and other parks were introduced to ensure proper upkeep of these monuments. "When we were in power, and this memorial site was built, we decided to provide the tickets for those who wanted to see this, and the revenue generated from that won't be used on other things but will be used to maintain the parks and other memorial sites built in Lucknow," she said.
The BSP chief also addressed the massive turnout at the event, where lakhs of supporters gathered to pay homage to Kanshi Ram at the Kanshi Ram Memorial.
"Kanshi Ram's dedicated life for the benefit of the BSP will always be memorable and immortal for us. Today, along with me, you too, in countless numbers, have come here in Lucknow to pay your respects to this great person," she said.
Mayawati also acknowledged the efforts taken to restore the memorial, which had earlier faced maintenance delays. "Parts of this memorial were not repaired on time, and due to that, you were not able to pay floral tributes to him. But now that most of it is complete, you have broken all your previous records of turnout to pay homage to Kanshi Ram, for whom the party is very thankful to you," she added.
Earlier today, Mayawati paid floral tributes to party founder Kanshi Ram on his death anniversary at the Kanshi Ram Memorial in Lucknow.
Addressing the gathering, BSP National Convenor Akash Anand highlighted Mayawati's unwavering commitment to Kanshi Ram's vision and to the ideology of Dr. BR Ambedkar.
"She (party chief Mayawati) supported Kanshi Ram in all difficulties and walked the path of Babasaheb Ambedkar. She dedicated her life to empowering crores of Dalits, tribals, backward classes, and other communities. Even after the demise of Kanshi Ram, Behenji is dedicated to carrying forward his incomplete caravan. We are grateful to her for this," Anand said.
Kanshi Ram, the founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), was born on March 15, 1934, in Punjab. He dedicated his life to uplifting the marginalised sections of society and empowering the Bahujan Samaj. From an early age, Kanshi Ram displayed a deep sense of empathy and compassion towards the plight of oppressed communities. He recognised the inherent inequalities perpetuated by the caste system and resolved to challenge the status quo through organised political action.
In 1984, Kanshi Ram founded the Bahujan Samaj Party with the objective of uniting the Bahujan Samaj, comprising Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and Religious Minorities, into a formidable political force.
He remained steadfast in his commitment to the cause of social transformation and economic emancipation. He tirelessly mobilised support among the Bahujan communities, inspiring millions to join the movement for equality and justice.
Meanwhile, Mayawati on Tuesday slammed the Samajwadi Party and Congress over their alleged "casteist and malicious" attitude towards the BSP founder Kanshi Ram. As the BSP has announced an event to commemorate the death anniversary of its founder, Kanshi Ram, Mayawati criticised SP's move to hold public meetings on October 9, calling it "blatant deception". (ANI)