Mayawati's nephew joins BSP even as she says 'not promoting dynasty politics'

“Rise in the popularity of BSP & its alliance with SP has created unrest among parties & leaders who are anti-Dalits & casteist. Instead of fighting us fair and square they are making absurd remarks against us and conspiring with some casteist and anti-Dalit TV channels,” she said.

Aakash Singh standing next to BSP chief Mayawati. PIC/Akhilesh Yadav (Twitter)

Lucknow: As Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati celebrated her 63rd birthday recently, little did her nephew Aakash Singh know that he would become the cynosure of all media attention. Aakash is the son of Mayawati’s brother Anand Singh who was the party’s vice-president until two years ago. As Aakash was prominently seen beside her during her birthday celebrations on Tuesday and at the meeting with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday, the Dalit leader began facing criticism from various quarters for promoting dynasty politics in the party. 24-year-old Aakash returned to the country recently after completing his MBA programme from London. Mayawati addressed a press conference in the afternoon on Thursday to clarify that she’s a woman of fixed and unbending principles and has demonstrated that by removing her own brother Anand Singh from the post of national vice-president. She said her younger brother Anand and his family had selflessly struggled since 2003 to support her and the BSP but never sought a party position. However, Mayawati at  the same time announced that she will make Akash (her nephew) join BSP’s movement and give him an opportunity to learn. She said her opponents are making ridiculous comments by colluding with some anti-Dalit TV channels. “Rise in the popularity of BSP & its alliance with SP has created unrest among parties & leaders who are anti-Dalits & casteist. Instead of fighting us fair and square they are making absurd remarks against us and conspiring with some casteist and anti-Dalit TV channels,” she said. Emphasizing on the emergence of the Bahujan Samaj Party as an illustration of Dalit movement, she said, “I am a disciple of Kanshi Ram ji, so to give a 'tit for tat' answer I will make Akash (her nephew) join BSP movement & make him learn. If some casteist & anti-Dalit section of media has a problem with that then let it be. Our party doesn't care.”