Lucknow: In a brazen act of defiance, Mayawati on Wednesday ignored the opposition outcry over her being adorned with 1000-rupee notes and got herself again garlanded with currency notes to the tune of Rs 18 lakh.
The garland comprising notes of various denominations was presented at a meeting of party leaders two days after she was felicitated with 1000-rupee notes estimated between Rs 21 lakh and Rs 15 crore at a massive BSP rally here.
"Wherever she goes, she will henceforth be greeted with garland of notes and not with garland of flowers," state PWD Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui told reporters after the meeting.
"Joh Behenji se takraayega woh mitti mein mil jaayega" (whoever challenges Mayawati will be doomed), he said.
He said for Wednesday's programme, members from 18 zones of UP have contributed one-rupee each. "The total contribution is Rs.18 lakh."
IT officials to probe Mayawati's cash garland
Defending the gesture, BSP MLA Sayed Kazam Ali Khan said political leaders are garlanded at public functions. It was done in front of lakhs of people, not behind any closed room.
"When it comes to Mayawati, all political parties, irrespective of being against each other at the national level, gang up against her," he said.
The Bahujan Samaj Party supremo has came under sharp attack inside and outside Parliament over the currency garland issue.
The IT department has decided to investigate the source of the money for the garland presented to her at the 'Maha' rally.
The Congress, BJP and Samajwadi Party have also demanded a CBI probe.
AICC General Secretary in-charge of UP, Digvijay Singh said Mayawati is "no more a Dalit ke beti but Daulat ke beti (she is not the daughter of a Dalit, but daughter of wealth)."
He said Congress does not subscribe to this brazen display of wealth and will oppose this "terrible" corruption.
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"This is a vulgar display of money in politics. This is not good for any political party or a political leader," added Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said.
Ahmed said Indian tradition and political decorum do not permit such vulgar display of money and muscle power. "She is displaying both," he said.
While accusing Mayawati of violating basic democratic norms by accepting currency garlands, BJP also taunted Congress, saying it if was serious in its criticism of the BSP chief, then it should refuse the support extended by her to the UPA.
"On the one hand the state Government has said it has no money to pay as compensation to the next of kin of those killed in a stampede at Kripalu Maharaj's ashram, and on the other several crores are being spent to organise rallies to mark BSP's 25 years," BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters in Delhi.
Thousands gather for Mayawati's rally
"Today once again Mayawati received a garland with currency worth Rs 18 lakh and said she would continue to receive such gifts. This is a violation of basic norms of democracy... If she really cares for the Dalits, then the money should be spent on their education, health and development," he said.
Following the foot steps of Saddam Hussein, Mayawati has become the only living leader with her "life size statues" installed at various places, he said.
