A day after the Apex Court asked BSP chief Mayawati to return crores of public money spent on grand statues of herself and the BSP party symbol, the elephant, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister on Saturday said the monuments and parks built in the memory of great men and saints born in backward classes are not just a part of the state's identity, but also add regular revenue to the state coffers.

"Marvellous Sthals/Memorials/Parks etc. built to honour hitherto ignored great Sants, Gurus and great men born in deprived and oppressed Dalit and OBCs are new grand identity and tourist attraction of Uttar Pradesh which gives regular income to government (sic)," she tweeted.

"Humble request to the media please don't distort oral observation of the Honorable court. Sure to get justice in this matter also. Media and BJP leaders please stop kite flying," she added.

On Friday, the Supreme Court had said, "We are of the tentative view that Mayawati has to deposit the public money spent on her statues and party symbol to the state exchequer."