Mayawati threatens to resign from RS

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Tuesday threatened to resign from the Rajya Sabha after she was not allowed to raise in the House the issue of atrocities against Dalits.

"I have come to this House to be the voice of the Dalits and backwards -- to raise their issues. But when I am not allowed to speak then why should I stay here," she asked while speaking to the media outside Parliament.

"That's why I have decided to resign as a Rajya Sabha member today (Tuesday)," Mayawati said.

Mayawati then said Babasaheb (Bhim Rao Ambedkar) was not allowed to table the Hindu Code Bill as Law Minister and was not allowed to speak in the House, so he resigned.

"I am his disciple so I am also resigning because I am also not being allowed to speak in the House," the BSP chief said.

She was speaking during the Zero Hour. She had given an adjournment notice to discuss the atrocities on the Dalits in Uttar Pradesh's Shahranpur district.

She was given three minutes to speak.

Earlier in the House, she said "casteism and capitalism" have grown all over the country, particularly in the BJP-ruled states, after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power at the Centre.

She alleged that the Dalits were being targeted and sought attention of the House on the issue.

Her remarks created a ruckus and Mayawati threatened to resign if she was not allowed to speak.

"I will resign right away. I will come back and give my resignation," she said and walked out of the House.

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Mayawati has shown disrespect to the House and had challenged the Chair. "She must apologise," he said.

Amid noisy scenes, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien adjourned the House till noon.