The Supreme Court had ordered Mayawati to reimburse the public exchequer the money spent on putting up elephant statues in Lucknow and Noida.
BSP President Mayawati (File Photo: IANS)
Days after the Supreme Court ordered Mayawati to reimburse the public exchequer the money spent on putting up elephant statues in Lucknow and Noida, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief on Monday justified the expenses stating that “it was the will of the people”.
Mayawati on Monday filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court justifying the expenses in the installation of statues of herself and that of BSP symbol ‘elephant’ in Uttar Pradesh.
She filed the affidavit in compliance with the last order of the Supreme Court asking her to pay back the public money spent on erecting statues of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, herself, and BSP symbol, the elephant, at public places.
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The court was hearing a plea seeking direction to restrain her from spending public money on building statues.
Petitioner Ravi Kant had sought recovery of the amount spent on statues in memorial parks dedicated to BSP founder Kanshi Ram in Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier, the apex court had passed various interim orders and directions in which the issue of environmental concern was also raised.
Further, there was also a direction to the Election Commission that during the election the elephants built in the park have to be covered.
The petitioner has alleged that crores of rupees were used from the state budget for 2008-09 to glorify Mayawati who was then the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.
The bench had posted the matter for final hearing on April 2.
The BSP chief had earlier this month said that the parks and memorials that were built in the state of Uttar Pradesh, while she was the chief minister, honour great men from among the oppressed Dalits and OBCs. She further added that these have become famous tourist spots, generating revenue for the government.
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