Mayawati hits back: Naseemuddin Siddiqui is "taping blackmailer", says BSP supremo

New Delhi: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Thursday made a counter attack on expelled Naseemuddin Siddiqui and called him "taping blackmailer" in a hurriedly called press conference in Lucknow, state capital of the Uttar Pradesh. Here are important excerpts from the press conference:

• Along with the EVMs, Naseemuddin Siddiqui also responsible for the defeat of the BSP party: Mayawati
• Naseemuddin Siddiqui is "taping blackmailer": Mayawati

Naseemuddin Siddiqui is "taping blackmailer": Mayawati

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) May 11, 2017

• Naseemuddin Siddiqui used to "blackmail" party workers for money: Mayawati
• I gave Siddiqui responsibility for western UP in elections but people came and told me that he is a very big blackmailer: Mayawati
• If Naseemuddin Siddiqui can record party  call and tamper it as per convenience then how can he be expected to fulfill responsibilities: Mayawati on Siddiqui

Anyone can expose party leaders after not being a part of it, said Azam Khan on Naseemuddin Siddiqui. Interestingly, after being expelled from BSP, Naseemuddin Siddiqui lashed out at the party supremo Mayawati and accused her of labelling the Muslims as ‘dogs’ and 'traitors'. "After elections in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati called me to Delhi and asked me why the Muslims did not vote for the BSP? She also said that backward and upper caste also did not vote for us," Siddiqui quoted Mayawati as saying at a press conference in Lucknow. He alleged that the BSP chief had often used objectionable words against Muslims. Mayawati also said that bearded men are dogs, traitors, Siddiqui claimed. Mayawati doesn't remember the sacrifices I have made for the party for the past 32 years, the 3-time minister in Mayawati government said. "She demanded Rs 50 crore from me for the party but I said I cannot procure that much amount after selling my residence," Siddiqui said. "I wasn't allowed to meet my ailing daughter  who died in 1996," he added. Siddiqui said an earthquake would occur if he revealed Mayawati and BSP's dirty secrets. "I will reveal them slowly but surely." He also played a purported telephonic conversation between him and Mayawati during the press conference. Rebutting his charge, Mayawati addressed a press conference at 7:15pm saying "Naseemuddin is a blackmailer who taps phones of people. He edits the conversation and plays out the fabricated part to extract money." On Wednesday, Siddiqui and his son were thrown out of the party for anti-party activities. BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra had announced the decision. Mishra had alleged that Siaddiqui had taken money from candidates during the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in which the BSP's tally fell to an all-time low of 19. He also accused Siddiqui, of being involved in several slaughter house businesses and holding many "benami" properties in different cities.