A day after the Supreme Court indicated that she might have to pay back to the public exchequer the money spent on erecting statues and memorials in parts of Uttar Pradesh, BSP chief Mayawati urged the media not to “distort” the oral observations of the court.
“Sure to get justice in this matter also. Media and BJP leaders, please stop kite-flying,” Ms. Mayawati said. In a statement here on Saturday, she explained the logic behind building memorials, statues and parks dedicated to social icons. She said memorials and parks “built to honour hitherto ignored great sants, gurus and great men born in oppressed Dalit and OBCs are new grand identity and tourist attraction of Uttar Pradesh, which gives regular income to the government.”