Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Sunday launched a direct attack on her nephew Akash Anand, accusing him of being behind what she described as false rumours about her health.
Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister claimed that the expelled party leader had called her personal secretary, Alok Kumar, and asked whether she was unwell.
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According to Mayawati, her aide told Akash that she was perfectly fine and continuing her work.
The BSP chief claimed that Akash asked Kumar not to inform her about the phone call.
She said the intention behind the call could be either genuine or malicious, but accused her nephew of continuing to act at the behest of his father-in-law, former BSP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Siddharth.
MAYAWATI CLOSES DOOR ON AKASH ANAND
The allegations come a day after Mayawati announced that none of her brother Anand Kumar’s sons – Akash and his brother Ishan – would be given any political position within the party.
She called it her “final decision.”
The ex-UP CM made the announcement days after removing Akash, who was holding key positions, from the party’s responsibilities, highlighting the problems plaguing the party leadership ahead of upcoming Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
Mayawati said if Anand Kumar remains with her and needs assistance, he can seek help from his only daughter, Kumari Deepika Anand, who is currently studying law, given the current political situation.
In a long post on X in Hindi, Mayawati said she is only concerned day and night about the interests and welfare of the ”Bahujan Samaj family.”
“Like Kanshi Ram ji, I too have always kept my brothers, sisters, young family members, and close relations away from positions as MP, MLA, minister, or any other post offering political benefit, by confining them to party work,” she said.
“Not only this, since I am unmarried, I am forced to keep one of my siblings – finally my youngest brother Anand Kumar – with me. He not only takes care of me but has also been carrying out important party responsibilities under my supervision for a long time. However, if his family members also take advantage of this, then it will not be in the interest of the party and the movement,” she said.
Making her decision clear, the BSP chief said, “Therefore, today it is my final decision and pledge that in return, none of his sons, in particular, will be allowed to engage in politics by holding any position, big or small, within the BSP.”
She added, “If Anand Kumar, while remaining with me, needs another member to assist him, then in the current political situation, he can seek the help of his only daughter, Kumari Deepika Anand, who is currently studying law. He can then, based on her honesty, loyalty, and efficiency, assign her his own responsibilities within the party as needed.”
She said Anand Kumar should not entrust this responsibility to his two sons nor to any of their young children in the future. She said if his daughter is unwilling to take responsibility, he may, with the party’s consensus, hand over his responsibility to another missionary worker from within the party’s Dalit community.
FAMILY TURMOIL PLAGUES BSP
On Thursday, Mayawati announced that Akash Anand has been “freed” from the party. She said this shortly after Ashok Siddharth announced his retirement from politics.
The former Rajya Sabha member’s exit from politics was a condition set by the BSP chief for Akash’s return to the party.
However, even though Ashok Siddharth “renounced” his political life, Mayawati went forward with closing the door on Akash’s political future with the BSP.
Maywati said her nephew, whose personal and family interests she said appeared to outweigh his political career and the party’s interests, could effectively work for the BSP while remaining “double-minded.”
She also said Akash’s failure to repost her earlier X post showed his greater attachment to family ties than the BSP and its movement.
– Ends
(With inputs from PTI)
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
