Uttar Pradesh BJP leader compares Mayawati to sex worker, sacked

The ruling BJP government found itself embroiled in a major controversy after one of its leaders in Uttar Pradesh - Dayashankar Singh, compared rival politician Mayawati to a prostitute.

 

BJP later in a bid to distance itself from the controversy announced that it had sacked its Uttar Pradesh vice president Dayashankar Singh from all party posts after his derogatory remarks against BSP chief Mayawati sparked massive uproar and pushed the saffron party in a tight corner.
    

UP BJP President Keshav Prasad Maurya told reporters that Singh has been relieved of all posts and said "such language has no place in the party".
    

BJP has been wooing dalits, a politically crucial community in Uttar Pradesh which goes to the polls early next year, and Singh's comments have the potential to damage its efforts. The party hopes that it will be able to contain the damage by acting swiftly against him.
    

"He has been relieved of all responsibilities in the party. There is no place for such language in BJP," Maurya said.

 

A video clip of the controversial remarks at a press conference, released by news agency ANI on Wednesday, showed Dayashankar Singh saying, "Mayawati has deviated from the principles that were outlined by Kanshiram."

 

"Mayawati is selling tickets (to contest polls)...She is such a big leader, a three-time chief minister...but she gives ticket to anyone who gives her Rs. 1 crore. If someone comes with 2 crores in the afternoon, she gives him a ticket. If somebody comes with 3 crores in the evening, she dumps the previous candidates and picks him. Today her character is worse than that of a prostitute." 

His statement  likening the former UP Chief Minister to a sex worker has drawn sharp criticism from all quarters.

 

Reacting to the remark, the BSP leader told reporters outside Parliament:

"These kind of derogatory statements show that the BJP is agitated over the growing popularity of the BSP." 

Top BJP leaders also tried to distance themselves from the episode. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in a statement expressed "deep regret" in Parliament 

 

"I express personal regret. I associate with your dignity and stand with you," Jaitley said in the Rajya Sabha.

Daya Shankar Singh is one of the 15 vice president of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, where campaigning for elections next year is picking up pace and aggression.

 

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Ashutosh tweeted the video with a jibe at the BJP.

 

Do u want more proof that BJP is anti-Dalit-VIDEO: Mayawati worse than a prostitute, BJP Vice President. https://t.co/6pQ8oJZ9fl

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) July 20, 2016