Memorials honour Dalit icons: Mayawati

LUCKNOW: A day after Supreme Court directed Mayawati to return funds used for building parks and statues when she was chief minister, the BSP supremo said these memorials were built in honour of towering personalities from Dalit and backward caste backgrounds. She also said, the parks were a huge tourist draw and a revenue-earner.

Party sources also defended use of elephants, the BSP symbol, in parks and memorials, saying these have their trunks pointing down while those in parks have their trunks up and should not be construed as party propaganda.

Taking to Twitter to express her reaction to the court order, Mayawati said: “Sthals/memorials/parks built to honour hitherto ignored sants, gurus and great men born in oppressed Dalit and OBC families. These provide identity and regular income to the government from tourism.” She emphasised that it was an “oral observation” of court and should not be distorted. “Sure to get justice in this matter. Media and BJP leaders please stop kite flying,” she said.

Going by the “tentative view” of apex court, Mayawati may have to cough up several crores of rupees spent on parks and memorials she constructed in Lucknow and one in Noida when she was CM. It’s alleged that over Rs 2,000 crore was spent on these projects through funds allocated from the state budget of 2008-09 and 2009-10. The final hearing is scheduled for April 2. The petition filed by advocate Ravi Kant in 2009 sought to restrain the state government from misusing public funds for political gains.

Meanwhile, sources in party said these parks held immense importance for people from backward communities. “Look at the crowds that gather at Ambedkar Memorial Park in Lucknow every year on Baba Saheb’s birth anniversary. The BJP government has erected a mammoth statue of unity in Gujarat and that has been welcomed. What is the problem with Dalit icons,” said the senior party member.