Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 2 (ANI): Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Friday slammed both the BJP and Congress after the Centre decided to include caste data in the upcoming national census, and said these parties are only trying to win votes.

Mayawati said that for a long time, the Centre refused to conduct a caste census, but now that it has agreed to do so, both the BJP and the Congress are rushing to show themselves as supporters of OBCs.

In a post on X, Mayawati wrote, 'After saying no for a long time, now the Centre has decided to conduct caste census along with national census and there is a race by BJP and Congress etc. to take credit for this and prove themselves OBC friendly, whereas due to their anti-Bahujan character this society is still backward, exploited and deprived. In any case, if the intentions and policies of Congress and BJP etc. were clean towards the Bahujan Samaj, then the OBC society would have become a proper partner in the development of the country, due to which the mission of 'self-respect and self-esteem' of their messiah, the most revered Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar would have been seen successful.'

https://x.com/Mayawati/status/1918157685200977940

She added that if the policies of Congress and the BJP were truly fair, OBCs would have seen more development by now, and Dr BR Ambedkar's dream of social justice would have been achieved.

https://x.com/Mayawati/status/1918157687423901940

'But today, when the OBC community is aware to a great extent due to the continuous struggle of Baba Saheb and BSP, then like Dalits, these parties which are hankering for OBC votes have the selfishness and compulsion to appear as their well-wishers, that is, it is clear that the interest of OBC lies only in BSP, not elsewhere. Therefore, the time is near to stand on our own feet by making the humanitarian struggle of 'Vote ours, rule yours will not work' correct and meaningful, for which negligence and carelessness are fatal. It is not right to rely on parties like the BJP and Congress, etc., for the welfare, upliftment and interest of the Bahujan, including Dalits and OBCs,' the post further reads.

https://x.com/Mayawati/status/1918157380702871926

She said that only the BSP truly works in the interest of OBCs and other marginalised communities.

https://x.com/Mayawati/status/1918157383085556083

She urged OBCs and Dalits not to trust parties like the BJP and Congress, saying, 'It's time for Bahujans to stand on their own feet. The slogan 'Vote is ours, rule is yours' must end. Depending on these parties will not help in our progress.'

Her statement came after Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on April 30 that the upcoming national census will include caste-related data. The decision was taken during a Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs meeting. (ANI)