Mayawati demands resignation of Buta, Sriprakash over Tikait row

Lucknow, Apr 2 (UNI) Peeved at the slur used by BKU leader Mahendra Singh Tikait against her in violation of SC/ST Act, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today castigated Congress, BJP and its allies for failing to implement the Act effectively.

Going to the extent demanding resignation from National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Commission chairman Buta Singh as well as Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal for supporting Tikait's act, Ms Mayawati said they should hold themselves morally responsible for this situation. This Act was never followed properly in the country due to these parties, she alleged, but asserted that her government was committed to enforce the law strictly without its misuse.

''It seems the Congress party has muted their voices and the SC and ST Act was being flaunted openly not only in UP but in the entire country,'' Ms Mayawti said while addressing a press conference at her residence.

''Open support to Tikait by the Union Minister for Home and no words on the issue from the SC/ST Commission chairman proves that they are not morally fit to occupy their posts and hence should resign immediately on moral grounds'',she demanded She said it was slackness on the part of Congress, BJP and other party governments that an 'ordinary person' (BKU leader Mahendra Singh Tikait) could use objectionable caste-indicative words against the Chief Minister.

The verbal attack of UP CM came in the wake of arrest of BKU leader Tikait who was charged with using slur against her '' The arrest of Mr Tikait should not be seen as government's action against any caste or person but rule of law should be maintained at any cost '', she said.

The CM said Tikait had sought apology for his statement and now as he had been arrested the ball is in the court of law.

Complimenting the administration and police for maintaining restraint while arresting Tikait from his native place Sisauli in Muzaffarnagar this morning, Ms Mayawati said the officers obeyed the orders despite the prevailing tension in Muzaffarnagar.

Ms Mayawati also chose the occasion to corner all the opposition parties in UP who had come in the support of Tikait. ''These parties never want the SC, ST Act to be executed in its spirit,''she remarked.

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