BJP expels UP leader for abusing Maya

Uttar Pradesh BJP vice-president and senior leader Daya Shankar Singh on Wednesday courted controversy after he used derogatory words to describe BSP supremo Mayawati.

An FIR under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was registered against Singh. A PTI report late in the night said he was expelled from the party. Singh, while charging that Mayawati had been selling her party tickets to the highest bidder, made an objectionable comparison, triggering sharp protests from the BSP as well as other political parties.

“Mayawatiji is a big leader of the country, but she is selling tickets of her party...she has deviated from Kanshiram’s principles.,” he said.  “Therefore the BSP workers are leaving the party...she is even worse than.............,” Singh said while speaking to reporters in Mau, about 300 km from Lucknow.

Singh, after his derogatory remarks triggered a massive outrage and put the BJP on the back foot in Parliament, tendered an apology and said he was ready to face any punishment decided by Mayawati. “I regret the remarks. I can never think of using derogatory words against Mayawati. I am ready to be arrested if the BSP supremo so desires,” Singh said.

Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Keshav Parasad Maurya also expressed regret over the remarks. Sources said Singh was removed from his post.

The case against Singh was registered at Hazratganj police station after the BSP lodged a complaint. Police sources said Singh had been booked under sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, race etc), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman) and the SC/ST Act. Police sources said the video clip containing Singh’s derogatory remarks was also in the possession of the cops.