Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Saturday paid tributes to saint-poet Ravidas on his birth anniversary and asked the BJP-led central and state governments to follow the path shown by him in serving the society and country. In tweets in Hindi, the BSP president recalled the works done by the governments led by her to realise the dreams of Ravidas.

''Under the BSP governments formed in the state four times, a lot of effort was made to realise the dreams of Santguru Ravidasji, and the work done in public interest and public welfare in his honour is not hidden from anyone. It will be appropriate if the central and state governments do good for the society and country by following the path shown by him,'' she said.

In a press release issued later, the Mayawati said that the message given by Saint Ravidas was not for fulfilling political motives but for serving the society, which has been completely forgotten in the present times, leading to tension and violence.

Recalling the works done in his honour, she said that her government had named Bhadohi district after him but it was changed by the previous Samajwadi Party government due to ''casteist mentality''. She promised that once her party comes to power, Bhadohi will be renamed as Sant Ravidas Nagar.

She said that now the members of these sections of society are becoming aware under the leadership of BSP. ''People belonging to BJP, Congress and other parties are being seen doing all kind of drama by visiting places connected with these great men for the selfish motive of vote bank politics,'' she said, warning people not to fall for such designs.

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