A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks that jails in Uttar Pradesh were “havens” for criminals, BSP supremo Mayawati sought support of the electorate in Mau, the Assembly constituency of jailed mafia don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari.
Addressing an election rally on Tuesday, Mayawati gave a clean chit to Mukhtar, who has been lodged in jail for the past 12 years on charges of killing BJP leader Krishnananda Rai.
She said that a win would “remove” the mafia tag from him (Mukhtar). “You (voters) must ensure his victory by a record margin,” Mayawati said.
The BSP supremo retorted that it was the BJP and the SP which have fielded criminals in polls. Modi, apparently referring to Mukhtar, had said on Monday that in Uttar Pradesh, criminals operated their gangs without any fear of the law.
Published 28 February 2017, 20:16 IST