No role of BSP in Ravidas temple protest violence: Mayawati

LUCKNOW: BSP chief Mayawati distanced her party from the violent protests in Tughlakabad, New Delhi, against demolition of a Ravidas temple claiming her party workers were not involved. She also urged party workers not to break any law during demonstrations.
Protesters went on a rampage in southeast Delhi on Wednesday, destroying property and vehicles and bringing parts of the national capital to a standstill.The protest was led by Chandrashekhar Azad of Bhim Army, while several political outfits, including Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party, had joined it. Mayawati has often expressed her contempt for Azad, calling him an agent of BJP and frequently telling her supporters not to fall for his ‘fake sympathy for Dalit movement’.
Condemning the violence, she said that BSP protests are carried out within the confines of law and the party never inconveniences people while demanding respect for its saints and leaders.
“If the government imposes section 144, do not violate it and insist on going to the spot like leaders of other parties. Do not give the government an excuse to harass you,” she told party workers.
“BSP is a disciplined party and its people continue to follow the tradition of not taking law in their hands. For other parties and groups, it is common to break the law, as one can see across the country, which inconveniences people,” she said.
Mayawati gave the example of recent massacre at Sonbhadra and Shabbirpur in west UP where, she claimed, her party went to meet victims only after the government allowed.