Cong, SP slam Mayawati, demand probe on statues' issue

"The manner in which the Chief Minister hurriedly unveiled the statues and parks yesterday is indicative of her guilt at misusing government funds for party work," Congress spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh said here.

Mayawati had unveiled the 15 statues, which included that of BSP founder late Kanshi Ram and her own, and parks at a hurriedly-organised function here yesterday, nine days ahead of schedule.

This was seen by the Congress as an attempt to pre-empt the Supreme Court from stopping her from going ahead with unveiling of the statues and also a bid to upstage Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who planned to hold a protest on July 3, the day Mayawati's function was earlier slated.

A public interest litigation (PIL) against the UP government on the issue is expected to come up on July 3.

In Delhi, Congress leader Digvijay Singh demanded an inquiry into the whole episode, accusing her of "wasting public money".

"Money of people is being wasted. People will not forgive her. She has seen the result in Lok Sabha elections earlier... BSP will be finished in 2012," Singh told reporters.

Alleging corruption, Singh said, "The use of stone in all these buildings, where it is coming from, which mine it is coming from, who owns the mine, these are the things which are to be inquired into.

"My own information is that there is  huge corruption in these buildings and the supply of stone," he added.

Former UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said in Lucknow that if given a chance, he will bulldoze the statues and memorials erected by the Mayawati government.

Lashing out at Mayawati, Yadav said that the state government has let loose a reign of terror in the state. "A sense of insecurity has gripped the UP government, as it thinks its days are numbered."

Samajwadi Party, which had announced that it would observe July 3 as 'shok divas' (day for mourning), today held demonstrations before the statues of Mayawati and Kanshi Ram at Prerna Sthal.

SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said Mayawati had unveiled the statues and parks yesterday itself after reports that the Supreme Court had advanced the hearing of the case to June 29.

BJP spokesman Hriday Narain Dixit said Mayawati's move has raised a "constitutional question" that whether any political party in power can misuse government funds.
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi during visits to the state had raised the issue of Central funds being "diverted and misused" for party purposes.

Akhilesh Pratap Singh said that notwithstanding Mayawati unveiling statues ahead of schedule, the judiciary still can intervene.

"Mayawati has forgotten that the judiciary can still step in," he said in Lucknow.
Digvijay Singh said the issue cost the BSP dearly in the Lok Sabha polls and the party will be routed in the assembly polls.

"Money of people is being wasted. People will not forgive her. She has seen the result in Lok Sabha elections earlier... BSP will be finished in 2012," Singh said in Delhi.

SP chief Yadav said, "Today, UP is reeling under power cuts and water shortage. The amount spent in erecting statues and memorials could have been easily utilised in any educational or health scheme."