Mayawati Hits Back at Rahul Gandhi, Calls Congress Apology to OBCs a Political Gimmick

After Rahul Gandhi’s public apology to the OBC community for Congress’s past failures, BSP chief Mayawati has launched a sharp counterattack, accusing him of selfish and insincere politics. In a strongly worded statement on X (formerly Twitter), she said Rahul’s remarks reflect the Congress’s longstanding neglect of backward classes, and warned against being misled by what she called "crocodile tears."

Mayawati: Congress’s betrayal of OBCs is not new

Reacting to Rahul’s comments at the Congress’s Bhaagidari Nyay Sammelan, Mayawati said the Congress party has never been sincere about the political, economic, and constitutional rights of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). She called Rahul's public regret a case of saying one thing and meaning another, aimed only at political gains after losing power.

"The real face of casteist politics"

Mayawati accused the Congress of adopting a casteist and opportunistic approach. She said that like the Congress, BJP's NDA also engages in double standards when it comes to marginalised communities, despite their public claims.

She reminded that SC/ST communities were denied their constitutional rights for decades, including delayed reservation benefits and the long denial of the Bharat Ratna to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The massive backlog of unfilled posts in government jobs, she said, is a continuing symbol of caste-based injustice.

“BSP was formed because of Congress’s failures”

Mayawati asserted that the formation of the BSP was a direct result of the continued humiliation and neglect faced by Dalits, Adivasis, and OBCs under Congress rule. She said that self-respect and the need to stand independently drove these communities to create their own political identity through the Bahujan Samaj Party.

“All casteist parties are the same”

Labeling all traditional parties as two sides of the same casteist coin, Mayawati said they have collectively worked to weaken the reservation system. In contrast, she claimed that only BSP has truly worked for the dignity, safety, and upliftment of Dalits, Adivasis, and backward classes during its four terms in power in Uttar Pradesh.

What Rahul Gandhi said

At the OBC-focused rally, Rahul Gandhi admitted that both he and the Congress had failed to represent backward communities effectively. He took personal responsibility and said, “It’s not just the party’s fault—it’s my fault. I didn’t understand your issues deeply enough. But I will fix that mistake.”