Congress has been anti-poor, says Mayawati at Firozabad rally

Firozabad/ Kanpur, Feb 20 (ANI): Criticizing the Congress party, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has accused the ruling party of being anti-poor and against small business enterprises.

Addressing a public rally in Firozabad on Sunday, Mayawati said if the Congress Party was elected to power, then poor people would have to migrate to other states for employment, as was the case during its earlier rule of 40 years.

She also slammed the Congress' proposal to introduce 100 percent foreign investment in the multi-retail sector, saying it could adversely impact both farmers and small shopkeepers.

"As soon as the Congress Party comes to power, then small industries, small business and shops, run by people in the cities and village, will come under foreign companies because of the Congress Party's FDI policy," added Mayawati.

Mayawati also accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) of allegedly giving a free hand to criminals and mafia during its regime.

"If the Samajwadi Party's government is formed in the state then SP mafia, criminals and goons will rule," added Mayawati.

Meanwhile senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani has slammed Mayawati for eulogizing herself.

"Does anybody build his own statues in this way? I don't want to ridicule anybody. I never want to do it, but this is not good, and that too, with public funds. If somebody does it with party funds then it is a different thing," Advani told a gathering in Kanpur.

The Uttar Pradesh polls are being viewed as an opportunity for major political parties to re-establish their foothold in the country's fifth largest and most populous state. new 403-member state assembly will be elected in March. The poll results will broadly indicate trends for the 2014 general elections. (ANI)