Mayawati flays SP for shaming democracy

Lucknow, Feb 8 (UNI) Condemning the behaviour of principal opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) during the first day of the Budget session in the Uttar Pradesh legislature today, Chief Minister Mayawati said it had ''no respect for democracy.'' ''The opposition's, especially the SP, shameless act of releasing black balloons and displaying black flags during the Governor's address is a bad indicator for democracy,'' she said here, adding it was the first time in history that black balloons have been released inside the House.

The SP chief is answerable to the people, as the hydrogen filled balloons were dangerous from security point of view,'' she claimed, and expressed hope that the people would compel Mr Yadav to stop acting in such manner.

As soon as the Governor had started reading his address to the joint session, the SP members had displayed black flags and released balloons, demanding the dismissal of the Mayawati government for its overall failure to run the state.

While some of the balloons were released in the air, some were burst by the legislators to show their protest.

Ms Mayawati had left the house even as Speaker Sukhdev Rajbhar had adjourned the house proceedings.

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