Lucknow, Dec 18 (IANS): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Sunday accused the Congress of betraying Muslims, saying the party had failed to check communal riots during its rule at the centre.
Addressing a 'Muslim, Kshatriya and Vaishya Mahasammelan meeting', Mayawati said Muslims had considered Congress their benefactor but the party had "betrayed them".
"It made promise after promise but gave nothing (other) than assurances. The Sachar panel report has mentioned about the condition of Muslims. Several riots have taken place in Meerut and Moradabad (in Uttar Pradesh), Bhagalpur (Bihar), Mumbai, Bharatpur (Rajasthan), it had deep impact on the Muslim psyche," Mayawati said.
She alleged that Muslims had been forced to live under fear during Congress rule.
She also accused the Congress of being soft towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She said organisations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal had become "quite active" in the country.
Mayawati condemned the Babri mosque demolition at Ayodhya in December 1992. "The Dec 6 incident, the more it is condemned, it will not be enough," Mayawati said.
The chief minister said that while her government had taken several steps for welfare of Muslims, the Samajwadi Party had virtually no achievements to its credit.