Congress anti-backwards, BSP anti-Muslim: Mulayam Singh Yadav

Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today alleged that Congress was "anti-backwards" and the BSP was against the Muslim community.

"Congress, which is heading the UPA government at the Centre, is anti-backwards, whereas the ruling BSP in Uttar Pradesh is against Muslims," Yadav said while addressing a state convention of backward community in Lucknow.

He alleged that the Women's Reservation Bill was an "injustice" towards the women belonging to the backward community and said the SP would continue to oppose it in its present form.

Claiming that the SP government led by him had provided jobs to maximum number of Muslims in police force, he alleged that they were sacked by the BSP government.

"Even Muslim officers are being harassed by the present government," he alleged.

He claimed that during his regime as Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Congress always conspired against him. "Today, when the BSP government is indulging in anti-constitutional activities, the Congress is keeping mum," he said.

"The Congress does not want the backwards and SP to come forward and strengthen their base," he added.

He said that population of backward classes belonging to Hindu and Muslim community was 55% and if they get associated with the SP, the party would gain power at the Centre. It was only SP which had always struggled and worked hard for the cause of all sections of the society, he said.

Yadav appealed to the people of the backward community to shun their differences and unite to "attain social justice".