India will forever see riots with Narendra Modi at helm: Mayawati

Alluding to the 2002 Godhra riots in Gujarat, BSP supremo Mayawati Monday said India would be "forever gripped" in riots and face destruction if the BJP led by Narendra Modi comes to power at the centre.

"The man responsible for the Godhra riots is aspiring to be the country's prime minister. It will be grave danger, if, even by mistake, the man comes to power. India will be forever gripped in riots and the country will be completely destroyed," said Mayawati, launching her Bahujan Samaj Party's Lok Sabha campaign in West Bengal.

Taking a jibe at Modi, Mayawati said: "This man claims he will change India if he comes to power. But I want to ask him, why didn't the BJP change the country's fate when it was in power for six years?"

Mayawati accused the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party of pursuing "anti-people" policies at the behest of industrialists and capitalists who fund their election expenses.

"Despite so many years having gone after independence, there is widespread poverty, unemployment and inequality. This is because the Congress, BJP and other rival parties are funded by industrialists and capitalists and when they come to power they return the favour by formulating anti-people policies," she said.

Turning to West Bengal, Mayawati attacked the erstwhile Left Front and the incumbent Trinamool Congress governments, saying they neglected the welfare of down trodden and failed to curb left wing extremism.

"There has been huge loss of life because Naxalism (Maoism)has been on the rise as these governments here have failed to address the issue.

"Not only here, but Naxalism as well as terrorism have been rising across the country because of the inaptitude of the central government," said Mayawati.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister criticised the Akhliesh Yadav led Samajwadi Party government in the northern state over rising instances of communal tensions.

"The BSP has been in power for four terms in UP, but there were never any communal tensions. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the current regime. Riots are frequent and criminals are roaming scot free, running the show," added Mayawati.