Lucknow, Feb. 8: The Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh landed in a embarrassing situation on Tuesday when several TV channels telecast footage of the Chief Minister’s personal security officer (PSO) wiping her dusty shoes during her visit to Aurraiya.
The incident took place on Sunday when Ms Mayawati was visiting Naunipur village in the district. The footage shows her PSO, Mr Padam Singh, wiping her shoes with his handkerchief.
As the PSO continued to wipe her shoes, Ms Mayawati could be seen talking to the officials in the district.
Mr Singh, a retired police officer, is currently on extension and supervises the personal security of Ms Mayawati. He is one of her most trusted lieutenants in the state.
The BSP MLA, Mr Nawab Kazim Ali, strongly defended the incident and said, “I do not think this is really an issue at all because the CM did not ask the security officer to clean her shoes. A handkerchief falls and if somebody picks it up and so you cannot turn that into an issue.”
However, Opposition parties have termed the incident as a proof of the “feudalistic attitude” of the Chief Minister. “This is simply deplorable and also sad to see that someone entrusted with the security is wiping Mayawati’s shoes,” said the SP state president, Mr Akhilesh Yadav.
The UP Congress spokesman, Mr Akhilesh Pratap Singh, said, “Mayawati, who came to power to fight against feudalism, has now adopted the same culture after becoming the Chief Minister.”