Amidst the ongoing row over the burning of copies of the Ramcharitmanas by supporters of Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has attacked SP over the Guest House incident of 1995 and asked them to remember their own past doings.

Recently, SP leader Swami Prasad Maurya's supporters burned copies of the Ramcharitmanas and later claimed that their protests were against “insulting comments” targeted at the 'backward' sections of the society.

Taking to Twitter on 3 February, Mayawati said that before advocating for the rights of Dalits, OBCs, and tribals, the SP chief should remember the incident at the Lucknow State Guest House on 2 June 1995, 'when a Dalit’s daughter who was about to become the chief minister was attacked at the behest of the SP government'.

She went on to add, “It is a well-established fact that the self-respect of SCs, STs, OBCs, and other religious minorities is protected only by the BSP, and the other parties resort to various theatrics for their selfish reason of getting votes”. She further alleged that the BJP and the SP were colluding to create polarisation and communal hatred in society.

Mayawati refrained from either defending or criticising the Ramcharitmanas and said that it is the Constitution of India written by BR Ambedkar which is a sacred text for SCs/STs and not the religious epic poem.

Responding to Mayawati, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said there was collusion between the BSP and the BJP. Both SP and BSP have been struggling politically, and with the upcoming local body elections in Uttar Pradesh, are vying for the SC, ST, OBC, and minority votes.