Lucknow, Sep 12: BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday hit out again at her nephew Akash Anand, whom she recently expelled from the party for the third time, accusing him indirectly of being part of a campaign spreading "rumours" that she was unwell.
"It appears that those expelled from the party have, over the last couple of days, tried to create an impression that 'Behen ji' is very ill and because of which she has been communicating even major issues through X posts," she said while reading out her message before reporters in Lucknow on Sunday.
Alleging that her nephew Akash Anand was still under the influence of his father-in-law and former BSP MP Ashok Siddharth, Mayawati said Akash had inquired about her health from party in-charge Alok Kumar.
"At 10.04 pm (on Saturday), Akash Anand made a direct phone call to party in-charge Alok Kumar at my residence and inquired if 'Behen ji' was unwell. Kumar told him that I was doing fine and busy with party work. At this, Akash hung up after asking that 'Behen ji' be not informed of this conversation," Mayawati said.
She described the matter as one needing "serious thought" while conceding that Akash's act could have been either well-intentioned or not, but accused him of "not using his own brain".
Mayawati recently announced that Anand has been freed from the party hours after his father-in-law Siddharth made his retirement from politics public.
The BSP chief said, people must be wondering why she is appearing in person after choosing to communicate over even major issues via X for a month or so.
"The primary reason is to alert party members across the country regarding me," she said, seeking to quell alleged rumours about her health.
On Saturday, Mayawati said that neither of the sons of her brother Anand Kumar -- Akash Anand and Ishan Anand -- will be given any political position within the party.
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, the BSP chief said.
In a lengthy post on X in Hindi on Saturday, 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.
Mayawati on Sunday said, "Here, I would also like to mention that approximately 58,000 panchayat assistants from Uttar Pradesh have been protesting for the past few days near the Kanshiram Green Eco Garden in Lucknow. They are demanding an increase in their honorarium to a respectable level and regularisation of their employment instead of the current contractual arrangement. It would be better if the government gives sympathetic consideration to their demands."
