Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati, while expressing her annoyance over the demolition of Ravidas temple in Delhi, has distanced herself from the violent protest by the Bhim Army.

Taking to Twitter, the BSP president said, “The incidents of vandalism that have taken place in Delhi, especially in Tughlakabad, are unfair and the BSP has nothing to do with it.”

The BSP chief also appealed to her partymen not to indulge in any violent protest and also not to take law in their hands. “The BSP always respects the Constitution and the law. The struggles of the party are carried out well within the ambit of law,” said in her tweet.

The violent Dalit protest in New Delhi on Wednesday over the demolition of a Ravidas temple was mainly led by Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’, who was detained by the police as he marched towards Tughlakabad area.

The BSP chief, in a series of tweets on Thursday, said, “The age old practice of BSP workers of not taking law in their hands is still very prevalent unlike other political parties. We cannot cause inconvenience to innocent people in the name of our great people and ideologues. That is why BSP has nothing to do with the violent protests in Tughlakabad on Wednesday evening. BSP always respects law and our protests are always within the boundary of law.”

“If the government imposes Section 144 (of CrPC) anywhere, then in that case BSP workers will have to abide by the law. Unlike other political leaders, BSP workers should not try to go to a place where there are prohibitory orders, and give government a chance to take action against them,” she added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad marched towards Tughlakabad  area of Delhi along with thousands of his followers. The Bhim Army had called for Delhi bandh on Wednesday during which the party also staged a mega protest at Jantar Mantar. 

The Bhim Army had asked its workers across the country to come to Delhi for a day-long protest demanding handing back of the temple land to the followers of Guru Ravidas and to reconstruction of the temple at its spot.

The Bhim Army chief strongly condemned the demolition of the 600-year-old Guru Ravidas temple. 

The Bhim Army also hit out at Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party government, holding them responsible for the demolition of the Ravidas temple.