The Times of India News Service

LUCKNOW: If BSP supremo Mayawati is to believed, then the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh is only good for one thing: making one ghoshna(announcement) after another.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, the lady obviously in high spirits, declared in her inimitable style that Rajnath Singh was no more the CM of UP, but the GM (ghoshna mantri) of the state.

"This is all he has done during his stint as chief minister. Even the law and order has touched a new low, even as the development work has come to a standstill, she elaborated.

Launching a scathing attack on the style of functioning of Singh, Mayawati further hauled him up for promising the moon to the gullible masses. She remarked that Rajnath had recently assured that fresh recruitments in some government departments would soon be carried out and had also doled out promises of better opportunities to the unemployed youth, ignoring conveniently that there was no money in the state coffers. The string of hollow promises from Singh, she said, would only step up as elections draw nearer. Janata ko is ghoshna mantri se sawdhan rehana chahiye (The people should be careful of this `announcement minister'), she declared in all earnestness.

Earlier, Mayawati demanded stringent punitive measures against Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti for their active role in the Babri demolition. Whatever they may testify, or whatever the court decides, BSP, she said was convinced that these leaders along with their allies provoked and abetted the kar sevaks. She even criticised Congress for its `hand in glove' tactic, as well as fence-sitting during the demolition drama. No one should be spared, she declared.

Other demands put up by her, included, assembly elections in September and making public the names of century investors, including those of ministers and officials, so that corruption cases could be lodged against them.

Denying rumours of a possible alliance with Ajeet Singh, Mayawati said that BSP will go it alone this time. Ajeet Singh, she added was all set to join BJP. Sare pitey pitaye neta ek ho jayenge (All the beaten politicians will come together), she prophesied.