India
Because of the BSP's dismal performance in UP polls, the party is short of the number of MLAs required to re-elect an RS member.
Updated : Jul 18, 2017, 07:11 PM IST
Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati today tendered her resignation as a Rajya Sabha member, hours after the Chair asked her to restrict her impromptu speech on anti-Dalit violence in Saharanpur of Uttar Pradesh. Mayawati met Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari this evening and handed over her resignation letter. "I met the chairman to hand over my resignation letter. It is not good that I cannot speak in the House on issues close to me... When I got up to speak, the government did not allow me to complete. Their members stood up and interfered. It is not good," she said after resigning.
Sources in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said the decision on accepting Mayawati's resignation lies with the chairman. The format states that the resignation letter should be brief and should not mention the reasons. Earlier, in the Rajya Sabha, an angry Mayawati had said she will quit from the house after the Chair asked her to restrict her impromptu speech. "I will resign from Rajya Sabha today," a visibly anguished Mayawati shot back when Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked her to wrap up her speech as she had exceeded the three minutes given to her to make her submission.
Mayawati, whose term in the Upper House is till April next year, argued with Kurien saying how can she be prevented from raising the issue about her 'samaj' (community) and the Dalits. "I have not finished. You cannot do this." "I have no moral right to be in the House if I am not allowed to put across my views on atrocities being committed against Dalits," she said
However, Twitter was quick to remind her that since the BSP had won only 19 seats, down from 80 seats in 2012.
Mayawati played her last trick to get back it's core voter which left before 2014 elections but her party won't get a single LS seat again
— Toshu Misra (@BJPToshuMisra) July 18, 2017
How is Mayawati a Dalit? By any definition, she is an elite.
— Vivek Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) July 18, 2017
#BSP Chief #Mayawati resigns from Rajya Sabha, saying she was prevented from speaking on atrocities on Dalits in Saharanpur #UttarPradesh. pic.twitter.com/6rW4djrOKY
— Bahujan Samaj Party (@BspUp2017) July 18, 2017
Given poor performance in UP, next to nothing chances of re-election of Mayawati to RS, her tenure ends soon. Smart to resign on Dalit cause
— Aman Sharma (@AmanKayamHai_ET) July 18, 2017
Behan #Mayawati was the only leader who raised issues of Rohith Vemula, Una Dalits beating etc that's why they are afraid when she speaks.
— Ambedkar's Caravan (@AmbedkarCaravan) July 18, 2017
Dear Mayawatiji,
— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) July 18, 2017
There is no need to quit Rajyasabha if you want to bunk it.
Sincerely,
Sachin Tendulkar
'I'm not allowed to speak in Rajya Sabha for weaker sections, I will resign'says #Mayawati, plays victim card.
— Mimansa Malik (@Mimansa_Zee) July 18, 2017
What an Idea Madamji.....tenure is ending in 9 months...April 2, 2018...and no scope from retaining from UP.... https://t.co/0ECS2pbhsY
— J Gopikrishnan (@jgopikrishnan70) July 18, 2017
Mayawati likens her resignation from Rajya Sabha to the incident where Ambedkar resigned & spoke to media for reason to quit Parliament pic.twitter.com/U4Fh6UD37q
— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) July 18, 2017