Opposition seeks action against Mayawati

The Samajwadi Party (SP), the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday hit out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for accepting garlands of high-value currency notes and called her a corrupt politician.

The Samajwadi Party (SP), the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday hit out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for accepting garlands of high-value currency notes and called her a corrupt politician.

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As the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader accepted a second "currency garland" in Lucknow on Wednesday, two days after a similar gift sparked off intense criticism, parties ranged against her went on the offensive.

The SP, the main opposition in Uttar Pradesh, demanded that the money received by Mayawati should be investigated along with a case of amassing disproportionate assets she is embroiled in.

SP spokesman Mohan Singh told IANS that Mayawati's habit of accepting garlands made of high-value currency notes folded and stitched together was detestable for one holding public office.

"The actual worth of garlands is in crores. This is mockery of the poor," he said.

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, who is the party in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, said Mayawati was “not worried about Dalits but about daulat (money)".

Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan sought "appropriate action" after uncovering the source of the money given to the BSP leader.

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Mayawati "seemed to be in a competition to become the richest corrupt woman. “Her's is not a Dalit movement but a Daulat (money) movement."

The BSP, however, remained defiant. Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui said that the garland given to Mayawati Monday was worth Rs.21 lakh and the one given Wednesday worth Rs 18 lakh.