UP Elections 2017: No bigger 'Kasab' than Amit Shah: Mayawati replies to BJP Prez's jibes

Ambedkar Nagar: Launching a scathing attack at Amit Shah over his "Kasab" remark, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Thursday said there is no bigger "Kasab" (terrorist) than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President.

"The entire nation knows that there is no bigger Kasab ie, terrorist than Amit Shah," Mayawati said while addressing rally in Ambedkar Nagar.

The former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh further said Amit Shah's Kasab statement shows the cheapness of the saffron party.

The BJP president drew flak from the opposition for devising 'KASAB' as an acronym for describing Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

"In the last fifteen years, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) governments have ruined Uttar Pradesh. The two were enough for destruction, however, a third one has also arrived. The population of UP must get rid of this KASAB, and by this I mean - 'Ka' for Congress, 'S' for SP and 'B' for...," Shah said while addressing a rally in Chauri Chaura.

While he didn't clearly mention the BSP, there was no denial from his side when the audience shouted 'BSP'.

Earlier in the day, Congress also condemned Shah's remark, while stating that his derogatory language was violation of the model code of conduct.

"Only a failed leader can use such derogatory and cheap language," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told ANI.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Wednesday said that it was violation of the model code of conduct, adding that BJP president's statement shows the communal mindset of the saffron party.

"Amit Shah's statement shows party's communal mindset which is reprehensible. It was a clear violation of the model code of conduct. It was a violation of rule and law," Singhvi told ANI.

BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday dubbed Congress, SP and BSP as "KASAB", adding yet another acronym in the Uttar Pradesh poll campaign, and said development will elude the state till "Kasab is laid to rest".

Elaborating on the acronym at an election meeting, he said, "Ye Uttar Pradesh ki janata is baar ke chunav mein is Kasab se mukti paa le. Main phir se bolta hu Uttar Pradesh ki janata is baar ke chunav mein is Kasab se mukti paa le. Kasab se mera matlab kuch aur mat nikaliyega. Kasab se mera matlab hai- KA se Congress, SA se Samajwadi Party aur B se BSP."

(In this election, people of UP should get rid of Kasab. I say it again, people of UP should get rid of Kasab. Do not take any other meaning when I say Kasab. What I mean by KASAB is -- KA for Congress, SA for Samajwadi Party and B for BSP.) Shah made these comments while seeking to draw a parallel between the rival parties and the Mumbai attack perpetrator Ajmal Kasab.

"Until and unless Kasab is laid to rest, development and prosperity will continue to elude the poll-bound state. In other words, it means that the state may have to languish further, if there is no respite from these political parties," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has coined 'SCAM' for SP, Congress, Akhilesh and Mayawati, and dubbed BSP as 'Behenji Sampatti Party'. BSP supremo Mayawati has described BJP as 'Bhartiya Jumla (rhetoric) Party' and punned with Modi's initials saying they stood for "Mr Negative Dalit Man." Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had his own explanation for SCAM -- Save Country from Amit Shah and Modi.