NEW DELHI, Jul 21 (IExpress) : It was BJP’s Dadri moment again in Uttar Pradesh a few months before the state goes for Assembly polls when a senior party leader likened BSP supremo Mayawati to a prostitute triggering political storm which may end up strengthening non-NDA parties without rival’s efforts. 2014 had arrived with buoyant news for the party when it had cornered 71 out of 80 Parliamentary seats in the state overcoming social engineering of regional satraps, but the Tuesday shocker added by BSP move to prolong the agitation against saffron party may upset Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s template of development politics.

Although, saffron party was quick to sack its UP Vice President Dayashankar Singh from all party posts and expressed regret, the damage was already done thanks to perpetual loudmouths of the party. The direct attack on Maywati encouraged fence sitters to join a united opposition front against the government.

The party has been eyeing the Dalit votebank in Uttar Pradesh and has made visible efforts to woo them with large deployments of union ministers in the last couple of months. While BJP president Amit Shah had food with Dalits in Varanasi district, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invoking Dalit icon B. R. Ambedkar in his speeches.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in fact weaved the caution by including 'restraint' in his 7-point code of conduct for UP party leaders last month, but Dayashankar seems to have missed the plot damaging intrinsic game plan scripted by Modi-Shah. The BSP wiped out in 2014 elections managed to got some breather and will try to wrest back its vote bank.

Saffron party facing the heat from own disgruntled leaders, scurried for cover after the issue was first raised in Rajya Sabha with top party leaders, led by Finance Minister Arun Jaitely, personally apologising to an enraged Mayawati.

Mayawati responded in anguish saying "I did not marry and considered the entire country's oppressed as my family. I have always followed my mentor Kanshi Ram's advice to take (donation) from the underprivileged and not industrialists”. The Dalit leader said that the BJP was perturbed by the huge support her party was getting in Uttar Pradesh.

What that BJP leader (from UP) has said, he said it not to me but to his sister and his daughter because people treat me like their daughter and sister. The country will not forgive the BJP for encouraging such people,” a furious Mayawati said.Jaitley said he was not aware of the incident till Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi apprised him a few minutes back.

"It is not right and I condemn the use of such words and I will look into this matter. I express personal regrets. I associate our dignity with yours and stand with you," Jaitley said.

Though Maywati said said she was "grateful" to Jaitley for supporting her, she warned the government that she will not be responsible if people hit the streets over the issue. Uttar Pradesh BJP President Keshav Prasad Maurya said Singh has been relieved of all posts and said "such language has no place in the party". Dalits are a politically crucial community in Uttar Pradesh which goes to the polls early next year. Sources said the party leaders hoped that it will be able to contain the damage by acting swiftly against him.

BJP was earlier on the backfoot over the killing of 50-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri December last year after rumours in the area about the family storing and consuming beef. Dayashankar Singh on his part tried to do some damage control on Wednesday by apologising and claimed it was a "slip of tongue".

He had said: "Mayawati is selling tickets (to contest polls)...She is a three-time chief minister but she gives tickets to anyone who gives her Rs. one crore. If someone comes with 2 crores in the afternoon, she gives him a ticket. If somebody comes with 3 crores in the evening, she dumps the previous candidates and picks him. Today her character is worse than that of a prostitute".

The issue was first raised in Rajya Sabha by Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad who in turn was informed of it by Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’ Brien.

Azad said though his party had political differences with the BSP, it will not allow any such remark to be made against a woman, who is also a leader of a political party and has been a four-time Chief Minister.

The Congress leader demanded that a case should be registered against the leader under SC/ST atrocities law. “Someone with such a mentality should have no place in any party or hold any office in any party."

BSP leader and close Maywati aide S. C. Mishra and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh also sought action against the BJP leader under SC/ST Act.

The opposition also demanded a unanimous resolution condemning the remarks. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said the entire house unanimously condemns the remark and asked the government to ensure that strictest action is taken against the person who made the statement as per the law.