Mayawati faces flak for hush-hush statue inaugurations

Lucknow, June 26 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is facing flak from Congress leader Digvijay Singh and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for unveiling a series of statues, memorials and parks across the state.

He said this while speaking to media persons at New Delhi on Friday.

On Thursday, Mayawati had formally inaugurated over 15 memorials in Lucknow, nine days ahead of schedule.

It is being speculated that a PIL filed by Delhi based lawyer Ravi Kant against such projects prompted the BSP chief to unveil the memorials in a hush so that the Supreme Court does not put the projects on hold.

"Mayawati is constructing huge structures in the same lines as it used to be in Roman Empire and Mughal Empire. An inquiry should be made from which mine the stones for the construction have been procured, who is the owner of the mine or has leased the mine. The public money is being wasted. Yesterday, the inauguration was done in a hurry as on July 3, public interest litigation (PIL) has to come-up for hearing in the Supreme Court. Public won't forgive Mayawati," said Singh.

Meanwhile, Mulayam Singh Yadav, chief of regional Samajwadi Party said that the state government in Uttar Pradesh is scared to face the public as such Mayawati had hurriedly inaugurated the memorial project.

"Such a Chief Minister doesn't have the guts to face the public. She is scared. Her government is in distress. She wants to run the government quietly. We have razed a statue using a bulldozer at Lohia junction. Such acts are bound to happen," said Yadav.

However, Mayawati has refuted allegations that she is misusing public funds to construct memorials, parks and museums dedicated to Dalit leaders. (ANI)