Chief of Bahujan Samaj Party Mayawati on Tuesday claimed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had abandoned Narendra Modi and this was proof that he has failed as a Prime Minister.
The former chief minister of UP claimed that RSS workers were not campaigning for the BJP in this election, “You will not find them this time, perhaps because the Sangh is unhappy with Modi’s false promises that have created huge resentment among the masses,” She was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
Mayawati demanded that the Election Commission ban politicians from visiting temples between campaigns.
“Worshiping in temples is in fashion in this election in which leaders are spending huge money. The EC should ban temple hopping by leaders as it is a violation of the model code of conduct,” she said.
The model code bans appeals for votes in the name of religion and says mosques, churches, temples or other places of worship “shall not be used as forum for election propaganda” but there is no prohibition on visits by leaders to religious places.
For the record, it is mostly BJP and Congress leaders who have been visiting one temple or the other every day in between campaigns.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has visited more temples than others. Barred from campaigning for three days last month following provocative speeches, Adityanath had visited half-a-dozen temples during that time and the media had been asked to publicise the trips..
“Modi ki naiya doob rahi hai (Modi’s ship is sinking),” Mayawati said, predicting Modi’s defeat on May 23, when the Lok Sabha election results are scheduled to be declared.
On Monday, Mayawati had dubbed the Prime Minister a “wife deserter” and appealed to the women of the country not to elect “such a person” as Prime Minister.
