Mayawati wants statues of Dalit icons, including hers, to stay

Lucknow, Apr 14 (ANI): Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Saturday issued a stern warning to the Samajwadi Party (SP) Government in Uttar Pradesh, asking it to stay away from the parks and statues constructed during her regime.

Mayawati said the law and order situation might worsen not only in Uttar Pradesh, but across the country if the ruling government plans to make new constructions in the parks where the statues of Dalit icons have been erected.

"As per reports published in various newspapers, I would like to tell the Samajwadi Party (SP) Government that if it plans to make new constructions in the parks where statues of Dalit icons have been erected, then not only in Uttar Pradesh but the law and order situation may worsen in the whole country over this," she said.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister further said that her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Government in Uttar Pradesh always took care of the respect and dignity of the Samajwadi Party icons during its rule in the state

"When my government was in power in the state then during its entire tenure it did not allow any other construction to take place in parks and monuments linked to the sage and mentor of the Samajwadi Party (SP)," said Mayawati.

"Our government took care of the respect and dignity of the sage and mentor of the SP. And I believe that the Samajwadi Party Government will think over my comments," she added.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has repeatedly said that empty spaces in these parks will be used for constructing institutions like hospitals or colleges aimed at welfare of the people of the state. (ANI)