Mayawati misutilising funds, says Digvijay

Bhopal Feb 25 (UNI) The Congress today charged that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati was ''misutilising funds'' on setting up monuments and parks instead of spending it on people's welfare.

Levelling this allegation at a news conference here, Congress General Secretary incharge of Uttar Pradesh Digvijay Singh said, ''Building monuments was the practice during the tenure of emperors and feudals.'' He felt that had Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar been alive today he would have opposed ''misutilisation of funds for setting up parks and monuments.

On Mayawati's demand for SPG protection, Mr Singh said such security cover was provided to prime minister and ex-prime minister.

''If she felt that Uttar Pradesh police was incompetent to provide her protection it was a different matter. Congress would be happy if she lived in a cocoon away from people''.

''Congress does not interfere in religious matters of any religion'', the Congress leader said about the 'Fatwa' being issued by Deobandh's Dar-ul-uloom.

UNI SP 1423