Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BSP president Mayawati on Saturday warned the ruling Samajwadi Party to stay away from the parks and memorials constructed during her term as chief minister.
She stated that if the ruling SP government tried to make any alterations to the parks and memorials, the law and order situation in the state as well as in the country was sure to worsen and the government would be responsible for the same.
In her address after paying floral tribute to the late Dr B.R. Ambedkar on the occasion of his 121st birth anniversary at the Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal here, Ms Mayawati said, “I have come across reports in newspapers that the Samajwadi Party government is planning to make some alterations and constructions in the parks and monuments built by me. I want to warn the government that if they try to touch these monuments, there will be a major law and order problem on their hands.”
She said that during her government she had shown the utmost respect to Samajwadi icons and she expected the Samajwadi leaders to do the same for dalit icons.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, speaking in Delhi, told reporters: “No statues will be disturbed. It will remain as it is. We never said we will break the statues. I made this clear on the very first day in office.” However, the chief minister accused the erstwhile Mayawati government of disregarding environmental concerns while setting up statues and other structures at the Noida Park.
It may be recalled that Mr Akhilesh Yadav has repeatedly said that the empty spaces in these parks and memorials will be used for constructing institutions like hospitals or colleges aimed at the welfare of the people of the state.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav has ordered the removal of 48 senior officers of Rajkiya Nirman Nigam (RNN), who were looking after maintenance work at various BSP memorials and parks built in Lucknow and Noida during the tenure of the previous government.
All these officials, including five general managers, have been removed from field postings and attached to the RNN headquarters. The minister has already announced a probe into alleged large-scale irregularities that took place during the construction of these memorials.