Memorials, parks built in honour of Dalit personalities pride of UP: Mayawati

Feb 9 (AZINS) A day after the Supreme Court said that BSP chief Mayawati should reimburse the state exchequer for using public money used to erect statues of herself and elephants, the party's symbol, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Saturday called the memorials built in memories of Dalit personalities "pride of UP".

She said that her party will put forth their case before the apex court strongly.

"Memorials and parks built in the honour of saints and gurus born in Dalit and backward families, ignored for centuries, are the pride of Uttar Pradesh and give regular income to the government as tourist attractions," she said in a tweet.

"Media should not present the Supreme Court observation by twisting it. We will put forth our views before the Supreme Court strongly. We have full faith that we will get justice from the court. BJP and the media should not get desperate," she added.

In a strong oral observation, the Supreme Court had on Friday said that the BSP chief should deposit public money used for erecting statues of herself and elephants, the party's symbol, at public places in Uttar Pradesh to the state exchequer.

The remarks were made by the apex court which was hearing a petition filed in 2009 by an advocate who had alleged that about Rs 2,000 crore was used from the state budget for 2008-09 and 2009-10, when Mayawati was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, for stalling her statues and BSP's symbol at different places.

It was contended that public money cannot be utilised for creating own statues and for propagating the political party.

On May 29, 2009 the court had issued show cause notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and Mayawati for using the public money for installing her statues and party's symbol at parks in Lucknow and Noida, adjacent to the national capital.